11 December 2012

Music of the Season - Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Greetings Dear Reader,

Last night I unwound from teaching by watching the Charlie Brown Christmas Special.  It always makes me smile and bolsters my love for the Christmas season.  One of my favorite moments is when the gang gathers around the tree and sings Hark the Herald Angels Sing. 

The words to this hymn were penned about three hundred years ago.  The meaning is still so vital.  It is one of those songs that remains timeless in its message; the message of the angels.  We sing it easily enough but do we really ponder the words.  I know I do often.

The reminders of reconciliation, humility, and redemption are key to understanding the advent of Christ.  Without this moment there is no cross.  There is no atonement.  There is no resurrection.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing – Charles Wesley

Hark the herald angels sing
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King.

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell;
Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King.

Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Risen with healing in his wings,
Light and life to all he brings,
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness
Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace.

Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

No comments:

Post a Comment