O Little Town of Bethlehem:`

“How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given”

Written by Mike Holmes

So beautiful and sublime for the greatest gift of all time to be bestowed on a silent night amidst a hushed fizz of excited whispers and humble pilgrimages – befitting of the suffering servant of the Lord and in such contrast with the pomp and circumstance usually associated with the birth of future King. Curious also that this is our prevailing impression of that first Christmas, when Bethlehem supposedly played host to mayhem - its inns brimming with the clamour of census registrants. Perhaps that’s the point. The nativity unfolds an oasis of peace in the midst of chaos; the Word made flesh - a light that shines in the darkness (chaos) which, despite Herod’s best efforts, could not overcome it.

So it goes with the nativity in our hearts, wherein God imparts “the blessings of his heaven” (same verse of this exquisite hymn). This sacred gift is not imposed but offered so silently that too often “no ear may hear his coming”. Yet if we humbly choose to attune our inner ear to the silent holy of holies within, we may become the “meek souls [that] will receive Him” so “the dear Christ enters in” (same verse).

Of course, “in this world of sin” (same verse) our heart nativity is threatened by the cacophony of our own inner chaos - egos, addictions, worldly desires, etc. Just like Herod, this darkness will constantly seek to extinguish the light of the Christ child born within us, because they crave power. So we can but try our best to tend lovingly to this sacred gift, which like a mustard seed can, with all the faith and willpower we can muster, grow into the largest tree so that the birds (our entire consciousness) may come (in a never-ending pilgrimage) to perch in its branches.