Sorrow and Christmas

This post is coming from the context of the violence, the suffering, the grief, the horror, the evil that happens in this world.

And more specifically, thinking of the families in Newtown, Connecticut.

Where is Peace on Earth?

This morning at church we sang this song, and it greatly comforted my soul and I also grieve the loss of my daughter who is in glory with those 20 children.

"I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day"

(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), 1867)

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Only in Jesus can we have hope. This world is full of death and hate and awfulness because of sin. And all of us are full of sin. Except for Jesus. And Jesus took all that sin and made a way for any of us to come to God and be forgiven and spend eternity with Him. And because of Jesus we can have hope. Because of Him, we can trust that this horrible world will come to an end, and God, the King of Life and Love will reign supreme.