O Holy Night:

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn ”

Written by Brenda Knight

A thrill of Hope the weary Soul rejoices

You only have to listen or watch the News to “weary the soul” ~ climate change, war in Ukraine and Israel, cruelty to children, corruption and inefficiency from those in power~ so easy to become depressed, giving rise to feelings of despair. We can feel caught between anxiety for the present and a fear for the future. Perhaps giving a choice between putting it to the back of your mind and just cracking on with our lives and sinking further into despair.

At the beginning of Advent, where we prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas and also look towards the Second Coming .It is then that I start to recall the music and carols of Christmas, one of my favourites is “O Holy Night” and so there is a particular line that encourages and aids the ability to “crack on”. That line emphasises the notion of Hope, indeed Hope is one of the three theological virtues, i.e. Faith, Hope and Love. Perhaps Hope may be said to comprise a belief that something you want to happen will Happen (Oxford Dictionary). The Hope that the coming of Chris at Christmas, demonstrates the love of God for us, enables that strength which is needed to cope with a changing world. The promise of the renewal of birth at the dying of the year.

So when we feel that love and promise demonstrated at Christmas it aids our capacity to deal with everything going on around us. The promise of Hope enables joy to come into the equation, Joy ~ the need to be joyful at this time , to feel the joy the Christ child has brought. Evoking the line that follows : “For yonder breaks a new and glorious light “