By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

Stille Nacht

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“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger….”
Luke 2:7a English Standard Version

One of my most poignant memories is gathering together as extended family on Christmas Eve and singing every Christmas carol in our song books.  And the night always ended with singing Silent Night in German.  I could see reflected in my parents and grandparents’ eyes the emotions of many Christmases past, Christmas memories of generations long gone, of many families gathered around the Christmas tree, singing “O, Tannenbaum” and hearing the story from Luke read in German.

These faithful believers had come from “the old country” bringing with them their faith in Jesus and their songs in German and a commitment to family and the Christ child.  They had come with little else than their faith and devotion to family and hard work.  They had experienced many tragedies and griefs and losses but they did not give up hope, for their devotion and commitment to God’s promises were like Mary’s, deep and abiding and able to take them through rejection and abandonment and loss and hardship.

There was something in those immigrants that reflected Joseph and Mary, their hard Christmas journey and this birth of a firstborn son in a barn.  They understood what it meant to be far from home and experience hardship and in the midst of the brokenness to cling to the promises of God.

And so as they sang those immortal verses of Stille Nacht, and as their hearts went to a Savior laid in a manger, their eyes shone with the joy and the peace that the angels spoke of, of peace on earth and tidings of great joy.  May your hearts be filled with joy and your faith filled with peace this Christmas season, wherever and however you may find your circumstances! God bless us, everyone.  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado