Words of Reflection
One of the readings set in the Daily Lectionary for today is from Micah chapter 4 and offers us these words:
“People from many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.’
For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem.
The Lord will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away.
They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.
Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, for there will be nothing to fear. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has made this promise!”—Micah 4:2-4 (NLT)
How many times have we heard the phrase “swords into plowshares?” It’s a well-known phrase even outside of Christian circles, and it’s one of those terms that can grow dull with familiarity if we’re not careful. But this particular year, with images of violence in the land of Christ’s birth filling our news feeds and our screens, it’s an image that can be renewed for us in power and profundity. This is especially true when we consider what we find in verse 2 just before it: “For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem.” What a striking image for us as we prayerfully make our way to Bethlehem in 2023!
Advent is traditionally linked to four themes: hope, peace, joy, and love. If you’re like me you often find that in a particular year one of those might capture you with a particular intensity, often due to circumstances and struggles we might be facing at that time. This year “peace” almost jumps to the forefront, as we face a world that seems consumed by hatred, division, and bloodshed. The message of goodwill and peace is more important now than ever.
For that reason “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” seems a carol written for such a time as this. If you know the circumstances of the carol’s writing (originally as a poem), you know that it was born out of a time of national conflict and personal grief. It contains one of the starkest statements of doubt ever set to song:
"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!”
There are many today for whom those words strike painfully true. Perhaps you are one of them. If so, let this carol be a balm for your soul as, just as in most Biblical laments, the author turns us once again to hope and trust that God is working out his purposes even in the midst of the darkest times:
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!”
May those bells peal loud and deep in your soul this Advent journey and beyond.
Scripture for Meditation:
“Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty.
Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you,
for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”—Revelation 15:3-4 (NLT)
Song: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (lyrics here)
There are several different versions of this carol set to different tunes—here are three well-known versions.
