Sunday, December 09, 2012

Babel Sounds & Angels

Every year now, it seems a new old Christmas carol sneaks up on me. This year, so far, I am a bit overcome by the quieting power and glory of this seasonal favorite:

It Came Upon The Midnight Clear

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.

For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.

-- Edmund Hamilton Sears

...the all encompassing view of time and its unimpeded, glorious end are a compelling vision for me. And, the blending of all things I know with things I don't know that much about (like angels) creates an unusual and often surprising sense of something much greater and more wonderful that I too can join...an unearthly Peace.

I now realize afresh why we decorate our home with carolers this time of year...what better response to something so glorious than for man to join the heavenlies in such a singing.