I heard the bells on Christmas dayTheir old familiar carols playAnd mild and sweet their songs repeatOf peace on Earth, good will to men
And the bells are ringing (peace on Earth)Like a choir they're singing (peace on Earth)In my heart I hear them (peace on Earth)Peace on Earth, good will to men
And in despair I bowed my head"There is no peace on Earth, " I saidFor hate is strong and mocks the songOf peace on Earth, good will to men
But the bells are ringing (peace on Earth)Like a choir singing (peace on Earth)Does anybody hear them? (Peace on Earth)Peace on Earth, good will to men
Then rang the bells more loud and deepGod is not dead, nor doth He sleep(Peace on Earth)(Peace on Earth)The wrong shall fail, the right prevailWith peace on Earth, good will to men
Then ringing, singing on its wayThe world revolved from night to dayA voice, a chime, a chant sublimeOf peace on Earth, good will to men
And the bells, they're ringing (peace on Earth)Like a choir they're singing (peace on Earth)And with our hearts, we'll hear them (peace on Earth)Peace on Earth, good will to men
Do you hear the bells, they're ringing? (Peace on Earth)The light, the angels singing (peace on Earth)Open up your heart and hear them (peace on Earth)Peace on Earth, good will to men
Peace on EarthPeace on EarthPeace on Earth, good will to men
This probably isn't the most popular Christmas carol, but I have always been struck by it's focus on the redemptive work of Christ. That it looks to a future when Christ has redeemed Creation and where His peace will prevail.
Stand wrote about peace on earth a while back (https://birdsoftheair.blogspot.com/2023/12/peace-on-earth.html) and made the point that, "Believers can find peace in the middle of unrest in their
relationship with God. With the Spirit within us and with prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving, we can know a peace that is not normal,
not human. It is beyond normal comprehension. And it's available ... to
all those who are in Christ. So, I guess we know now what the angels
meant, eh?". I think that while Stan is correct, that peace on earth also looks forward to that time after Jesus returns, finishes His redemptive work, and His peace will reign over all the earth. In the mean time, it's good to know that YHWH has provided us with peace amidst the strife and that right will prevail and we will know peace of a different kind.
4 comments:
This is a favorite of mine and many folks at my church (the traditional hymn with words by Longfellow, albeit minus the abolitionist/anti-slavery verses... which many say take away from the depth of its meaning). Longfellow, the pacifist opposed to slavery, truly did believe in the work of peace on earth, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done, ON EARTH..." as taught by Jesus. God bless him. While you find a "focus on redemptive work," I find the redemption is in working for justice and peace, here and now, as Jesus taught.
Perhaps you agree.
Well, if you say so. Unfortunately, Jesus was also clear that there will never be "peace on earth" in the sense of absence of conflict. As Stan pointed out, Jesus' peace is freely available to all. Jesus also was reasonably clear that ultimate peace and redemption will come when He returns and we see a new heaven and a new earth. I must have missed the fact where Jesus made salvation and redemption contingent on the work we do "here and now". But I've never been a big fan of salvation/redemption based on our works.
Dan working for justice and peace! That's funny!
Anon,
Please ID yourself, thanks.
It's not really funny as long as you understand that Dan works for "justice and peace" as he defines them and as long as the "solutions" line up with his worldview, prejudices, preconceptions, and politics.
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