Hark!

My father-in-law was re-admitted to the hospital yesterday. While sitting in his dark room, I began to hear faint, melodic, voices down the hall. I knew it must be carolers bringing joy to those who found themselves confined so near to Christmas. The voices were rich as the sound grew closer.

As they passed by the open door their words resonated in my soul:

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.

I recognized the lyrics, yet for a moment could not remember to which song they belonged. Why was this song not part of my Christmas song list? My eyes filled with tears. He is the giver of life, the light of the world, and our healer. Why do I not hear this one played on the radio? This is the true message of Christmas.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the new born King,

How amazing it must have been that first Christmas, for the shepherds to see the skies filled with angelic voices singing praises.

peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!

Truth revealed. The purpose of the babe born to a virgin and laid in a manger, so we could have a relationship with the God of the universe.

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 new born King!

And for those who don't know the second stanza:

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th' incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"

A lot of words that can be lost in the singing. But such truth as I meditate upon them. And the last verse is my favorite:

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"