It is not unusual this time of year to hear Christians lamenting what non-believers have done to Christmas. The commercialism. The materialism. Santa Claus. The change in terminology. We like to defend "Merry Christmas" over "Happy Holidays" and wear our "Jesus is the reason for the season" badges. We like to gather with our Christian friends for potluck dinners and gift exchanges. We enjoy giving gifts and sending cards to those we love. All good things.

But tonight I cried, and it was not about the non-believers but about Christians. We had a beautiful Hanging of the Green service tonight with special Christmas music by our Praise Team and by the Young Musicians, as we decorated the sanctuary and heard about the meanings behind the decorations . . . but the surprising moment that reached into my soul was an old carol sung by the entire congregation, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. Tears welled up in my eyes as I sang the words, realizing they matched the feelings of my own soul this night. And as I drove home, I continued singing the song, and found myself weeping.

Why such depth of feeling? I fear Christmas has become a dichotomy in the Christian world. Our heads are well aware that Christmas is about Jesus, and we know all the right answers in Sunday School, but without our realizing it, our hearts have become detached from the true Spirit of Christ mass. We have heard the story so many times that it no longer amazes us.  We are no longer astonished that the God of all creation would come to earth as a baby boy.  We are no longer astounded by such unfathomable Love.  We know the story, but I fear it is no longer attached to our souls.

With the poet of this great carol, I hear the bells of Christmas, with their old familiar carols and sweet words, calling for Peace on Earth and love for our fellow man. Yet our judgment and hatred, or at the very least, our indifference, toward those who differ from us is so loud that it drowns out the sweetness. It seems there is no peace of earth, not even within the Christian family.

I too get caught up in all the holiday activity. Shopping, party after party, travel, food . . . but there are a few moments throughout the season that give me a glimpse of the Spirit of giving to the Christ child. Serving dinner at the local homeless shelter, volunteering at the associational Christmas Store to share God’s love with the Spanish-speaking shoppers, singing Christmas carols with my students, working together with my students to give to someone in need. And on Christmas Eve, I find great peace and joy in the special service at Enon, followed by a beautifully meaningful service at a local Episcopal church that ends about midnight.

Love. Isn’t it all really about love? Not just for those who are lovely, and those who think like we think, but love for all God’s creation. Every human being. The forgotten ones. The marginalized ones. The imperfect ones. The grieving ones who will have an empty chair at the table this Christmas. The same ones for whom Jesus humbled Himself as a helpless baby. And died. What will we do for them this Christ mass?

The words of this carol were written on Christmas Day 1864 by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Our nation was in the middle of Civil War, and Longfellow had just received word that his son Charles had been wounded in battle. Two years earlier Longfellow had lost his wife in a tragic fire. He heard the bells of Christmas, but their ringing was hollow to his ears. There was no peace on earth.

Such a universal poem. Whether about war or grief or hatred or misunderstanding of Jesus’ message, it is universal. But we must not stop the song too early, for Longfellow continued:

Hallelujah! We humans, in our finite wisdom and understanding, do not have the last word on peace! God is alive, and right will prevail!

Almighty God!  The Everlasting Father!  The Prince of Peace!

Merry Christ Mass to All!  Peace on Earth!  Good Will to Men!

See also:

Lyrics to all seven original verses

Hear Johnny Cash sing the carol