At Midnight

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold;
“Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From Heaven’s all gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains,
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever over its Babel sounds
The blessèd angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring;
O hush the noise, ye men of strife
And hear the angels sing.

And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!

Have you heard the angels' song? Have you heard them cry out offering true peace? All creation joins in their song, proclaiming the One who sends this invitation. His voice is quieter and gentler by far.

You have to slow down a little first, so that you can hear Him. Shhh. Stop - rest. Close your eyes and breathe softly. There! Do you hear it? That quiet whisper, far back in your mind. That one, which had been nudging you gently. A still, small voice, murmuring, "Come!"

An unobtrusive voice, speaking to your heart, saying,

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Come and rest. Come and be refreshed. Come and know the Prince of Peace, who was born to give you life.

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Comments

[Always On Watch]

1.

"It Came upon the Midnight Clear" is my husband's favorite Christmas carol, but I didn't know that it was his favorite until we went to an improv orgen recital last month.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. I hear the glorious aria from Handel's Messiah.

I love Handel's oratorio because all the words are from the KJV. Shakespeare's English "reaches" me.