Rachel’s Reflections

Archive for December 11th, 2008

Advent Calendar 2.5

Thursday, December 11th, 2008

Week Two: Peace: Day Five

This is my all time favorite Christmas carol. It was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow during the American Civil War. It was a tragic time with people dying every day. Longfellow was honest about his feelings that the angels’ message of “peace on earth” was untrue and a mockery. I know I’ve felt like that, haven’t you? Every Christmas that comes, comes into a world that is not at peace. The Civil War may be over, but every year this song is appropriate, because every year there is a war somewhere. Somewhere people are dying or living in fear and where “hate is strong.” “There is no peace on earth.” But this song gives hope. In the next verse it says, “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep./The wrong shall fail, the right prevail.” There may not be peace on earth yet, but there will be. The right will eventually win.

Luke 2:14b

On earth peace, goodwill toward men!

(You can hear this carol here.)

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.