O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

05Dec
O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. - #56 

O little town of Bethlehem How still we see thee lie. - #78

-1982 Hymnal.


These past several weeks been quiet for me. I am waiting, watching, wondering, listening, anticipating ... It’s a little uncomfortable because I’m used to being active.

But this kind of quiet is very valuable. There are many times in my life when silence has been important. Listening as someone tells me an important story. Holding my wife’s hand before or after surgery. Sitting with a friend who is dying. Quiet anticipation before reciting my wedding vows. Expecting the birth of my child! Wondrous gazing at the newborn child in my hands. Silent adoration in the radiance of a sunrise.


There are moments when there really is nothing that can be said. What is most important is the Quiet Waiting, Watching, Wondering, Listening. Anticipating. Times of silence when I feel God’s presence…. or am searching for it. I think that’s basically want most of us want: for God to be with us.


Quiet, Waiting, Watching, Wondering, Listening...This is part of what Advent is about as I wonder: Where is God? What is that anticipated Holy incarnate birth about? During Advent we pray that glorious, heartfelt hymn asking God to be with us: “O Come O Come, Emmanuel”. Emmanuel means “God is with us.”


Perhaps that is what my quiet, watchful, waiting time now is about….

If I may get a little ahead of myself, I hear silence, watching, waiting, listening…. pondering in the event we anticipate: “Silent Night, Holy Night! All is Calm, All is Bright.” “While shepherds watched their flock by night” “O little town of Bethlehem. how still we see thee lie. Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight!”


I treasure these moments in my life: quiet, waiting, watching, wondering, listening. Then. In the silence I often find what I am searching for. In the peace I hear echoes of the Advent hymn that sums up our Christmas yearning as we seek Emmanuel: God who is always with us.


Musical Reflection - Veni, Veni Emmanuel - Zoltán, Kodály - 'HXOS Chor Berlin


O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high, And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. Amen.

AdventListening

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