Music of the Night - Phantom of the Opera
Luke 2:8-15
The angels were there!! The beginning and the end, they saw it all happen. Angel Gabriel is the angel who spoke to Daniel in the Old Testament to explain his visions. He is the angel that went to Zechariah and to Mary. The angels went to the shepherds. They went to the Magi in their sleep to redirect them. They were there when God went silent to Israel for 400 years. They saw it all. So imagine how happy they must have been when the silence was finally broken.
I’ve often wondered were there others in the field where the shepherds were? Did they not pay attention to the angels or were the angels only allowed to be seen by the shepherds. Hark the Herald Angels Sing has always been one of my favorite Christmas songs.
With angelic hosts proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! the herald angels sing:
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Hark means to listen to. If we were in the field or had a dream where an angel came - would we listen? I would like to say of course we would. But let me share a little about my life. A friend of mine moved neighborhoods, so another friend and I were going to her new house - for the FIFTH time. As we were driving, she was questioning if we were going the right way. I looked around and said I don’t think so because I don’t recall seeing that really cute old mill. She said neither do I. Then we saw a nice white chapel that did not look familiar so obviously we had missed the turn. NOPE. We just had not noticed any of those things before. So as much as I would like to say of course I would notice and listen, I don’t know if that’s true.
You may think it’s odd that I picked Music of the Night to go with the angels since angels represent light and phantom is dark. But listen to Music of the Night and think about it differently.
Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination
Silently the senses abandon their defences
Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendour
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender
This is where the shepherds were. In the night when the sky erupted with a heavenly chorus of angels. I love Music of the Night because it is such a moving song. Listen to the song and let that emotion fill you in awe of the birth of our Saviour as the shepherds were. I can only imagine being scared, then in awe and then off to find the Messiah.
This Christmas season I would like to challenge all of us to stop, slow down and listen. Notice the little things. And remember “You alone can make my song take flight
Help me make the music of the night.”
Reflection Notes:
1) What is your busiest time of the Christmas season?
2) How can you slow it down so you can notice and listen to those around you?
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