December 24, 2009 – Sleeping in the Night
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Devotion:
I don’t know about you but I have problems sleeping on Christmas Eve. I still get excited about Christmas and often I am the first one up – whether we are at our house, with Kathy’s family, or my family. All the preparation for Christmas will come to its completion in just a short time.
When we sing “Silent Night”, I wonder if Mary really got to have this quiet moment with the Baby Jesus. So much excitement and all the preparation for this first Christmas will come to its completion in all too short a time – and in ways that Mary never planned.
We are told that Mary pondered these matters in her heart. I’m sure that were details that she could not have told the disciples or the gospel writers if they asked – not that she had forgotten them but because they were too special and dear; something only a mother could understand. For only Mary cradled the King of Kings in her arms; she sang Him to sleep. She looked down on Him and saw Him as Holy AND as Infant. She had too much to ponder.
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, Son of God, Love’s Pure Light, may the radiant beams from Thy holy face, shine into my heart and there dawn again thy redeeming grace. Amen.