A Sunday-Before-Christmas Thought on the Biggest Story of 2013 You Haven't Heard
Christmas in three days: even with my careful planning and best efforts, I find myself struggling to keep my focus on preparation for the coming of the Divine Infant of Bethlehem, rather than the myriad pressing chores and various distractions that compete for my attention. Somehow, year after year, Advent always ends like this. Oh well, maybe next year I'll get control of these last days before Christmas and not have to struggle with work deadlines, last-minute shopping and assorted other pressing personal and family priorities.
But despite being pressed for time these last days of Advent, a remarkable event has managed to grab a few moments of my attention these past two weeks: the Ukrainians who have been demonstrating in a square in their capital, Kiev - a place they call simply The Maidan. While the reasons for the political discontent driving the demonstrators makes for an interesting story, one that will determine the future of a country struggling to emerge from the shadow of 350 years of Russian domination, that's not what makes the events in the Maidan compelling for those of us preparing for the coming of Christmas. Catch a few minutes at the top of every hour and you capture what may be the biggest story of 2013.
Every hour on the hour, 24 hours a day since the demonstrations began, the people in the Maidan, led by some person or persons on stage, sing the Ukrainian national anthem, immediately followed by prayers starting with the Our Father, which is sung as it would be during the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrisostom, which is the liturgy celebrated in the Byzantine Rite of the Catholic and Orthodox Church. And each time you watch this, you will hear the entire gathering join whoever is leading the singing. In addition, there are typically more prayers - brief but again involving the entire crowd.
It seems these folks understand one of my favorite phrases from one of my favorite choral pieces in Handel's Messiah: And the government shall be upon His shoulder. Too many of us have lost this sense of the absolute primacy of God, the reality of Christ the King, the fact that any and every government derives its legitimate authority from Our Lord Jesus Christ - the Divine Infant of Bethlehem who will soon come and take birth in our hearts.
Forget about the dominant secular culture that surrounds us. It's illegitimate. It's authority is based upon the exertion of raw power - the same justification the Nazis, the Soviets and the Maoist Chinese Communists used to assert their authority. I'm not saying that all contemporary governments are as bad as the pagan Nazi State or the atheist Soviet and Chinese Communist State. But when governments leave God out, they play with fire.
Once all Christians knew that raw power doesn't establish and sustain legitimate authority; only God does. It behooves those of us who have not forgotten what is the true cornerstone of society and culture to reflect on this for a few moments as we prepare our hearts for Christmas: The legitimacy of any government rests on its recognition and adherence to the authority of God. What could be more important in a world where governments have come to dominate our lives more and more?
Our moments of reflection may not set straight a world that has turned its back on God and vested authority in those who would wield raw power with little or no consideration given to the Ten Commandments. But grounding ourselves in the Truth, that is in Jesus Christ, will sustain each of us who struggle daily to live each moment of our lives according to those Commandments.
And in that light, with Christmas only three days away, may I suggest you listen to this great choral piece from Handel's Messiah and simply absorb and meditate upon these words - taken straight from the 9th chapter of the Prophet Isaiah.
Listen carefully. Revel in the words of Scripture put to Handel's magnificent music. And as we take our final steps toward Bethlehem and that most holy night which brought salvation to this weary world, feel the joyous exhilaration that comes to us in the Word made Flesh, Who dwelt amongst us some 2,000 years ago, and Who remains not only spiritually but physically present here with us each time we receive His Body and Blood in Holy Communion.
But despite being pressed for time these last days of Advent, a remarkable event has managed to grab a few moments of my attention these past two weeks: the Ukrainians who have been demonstrating in a square in their capital, Kiev - a place they call simply The Maidan. While the reasons for the political discontent driving the demonstrators makes for an interesting story, one that will determine the future of a country struggling to emerge from the shadow of 350 years of Russian domination, that's not what makes the events in the Maidan compelling for those of us preparing for the coming of Christmas. Catch a few minutes at the top of every hour and you capture what may be the biggest story of 2013.
Every hour on the hour, 24 hours a day since the demonstrations began, the people in the Maidan, led by some person or persons on stage, sing the Ukrainian national anthem, immediately followed by prayers starting with the Our Father, which is sung as it would be during the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrisostom, which is the liturgy celebrated in the Byzantine Rite of the Catholic and Orthodox Church. And each time you watch this, you will hear the entire gathering join whoever is leading the singing. In addition, there are typically more prayers - brief but again involving the entire crowd.
It seems these folks understand one of my favorite phrases from one of my favorite choral pieces in Handel's Messiah: And the government shall be upon His shoulder. Too many of us have lost this sense of the absolute primacy of God, the reality of Christ the King, the fact that any and every government derives its legitimate authority from Our Lord Jesus Christ - the Divine Infant of Bethlehem who will soon come and take birth in our hearts.
Forget about the dominant secular culture that surrounds us. It's illegitimate. It's authority is based upon the exertion of raw power - the same justification the Nazis, the Soviets and the Maoist Chinese Communists used to assert their authority. I'm not saying that all contemporary governments are as bad as the pagan Nazi State or the atheist Soviet and Chinese Communist State. But when governments leave God out, they play with fire.
Once all Christians knew that raw power doesn't establish and sustain legitimate authority; only God does. It behooves those of us who have not forgotten what is the true cornerstone of society and culture to reflect on this for a few moments as we prepare our hearts for Christmas: The legitimacy of any government rests on its recognition and adherence to the authority of God. What could be more important in a world where governments have come to dominate our lives more and more?
Our moments of reflection may not set straight a world that has turned its back on God and vested authority in those who would wield raw power with little or no consideration given to the Ten Commandments. But grounding ourselves in the Truth, that is in Jesus Christ, will sustain each of us who struggle daily to live each moment of our lives according to those Commandments.
And in that light, with Christmas only three days away, may I suggest you listen to this great choral piece from Handel's Messiah and simply absorb and meditate upon these words - taken straight from the 9th chapter of the Prophet Isaiah.
For unto us a child is born, a son is given
And the government shall be upon His shoulder
And His name shall be called...
Listen carefully. Revel in the words of Scripture put to Handel's magnificent music. And as we take our final steps toward Bethlehem and that most holy night which brought salvation to this weary world, feel the joyous exhilaration that comes to us in the Word made Flesh, Who dwelt amongst us some 2,000 years ago, and Who remains not only spiritually but physically present here with us each time we receive His Body and Blood in Holy Communion.
Divine Infant of Bethlehem,
come and take birth in our hearts
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