Why is Christmas the 'Silent Night'?

   Why is Christmas, the Silent Night? Because words cannot do justice to Christmas. But God can illumine out minds beyond words when we give Him time in silence. Mary and Joseph contemplated the greatest of Christmas as they held the infant Jesus in their arms. We can remember holding a newborn ourselves and think of the awe of that moment. But imagine the awe of Mary and Joseph, holding their God in their arms. He wants to be in your arms, too.

   We must find time for silence. Otherwise, Christmas is wasted. Sure, there are presents. But those fade away. The love of Jesus within our hearts does not fade away. With it comes peace. Not worldly peace, but personal peace. (If all people had this personal peace, there would indeed be world peace.) This has become the season of hustle and bustle, but if we do not find time for silence, we are not finding time for Christmas as it was intended. Jesus coming into our midst.

   In our noisy world, silence is scary. It feels like we are missing something. Indeed, we will miss something. But we will not miss anything that we will truly regret. If we miss out on silence with Jesus this Christmas, we will truly be regretful. Silence is where we experience God. He does not come down with trumpets blaring announcing His arrival. He comes down in the silence of our hearts as He came down silently on that Holy Night.

   Recall what happened to Elijah as he was hiding from the false prophets.:

“Then the LORD said: Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will pass by. There was a strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake; after the earthquake, fire—but the LORD was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak.” – [1 Kings 19:11-13]

   It is in silence that we can find God speaking to our hearts. Just like at Christmas, God comes silently. He was not born in a palace, but in a stable. He does not demand that you let Him into your hearts, but quietly knocks on your heart asking to come in. Are we too busy to never answer the door? Are we too distracted with noise as to never hear God knock? No one can say that He does not know of God, but one can say that they never opened the door to God.

   Mary, you experienced Jesus, God in human flesh, in a most unique way. Help us to ponder the great gift of Jesus lying in the manger, weak and vulnerable for love of us.