Love

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2:10–15 (NIV)

{Dramatic interpretation: look up Handel’s Messiah, and start with “There Were Shepherds.” You’ll know when to stop.}

I love musicals, and my favorite thing about them – besides the glitter and the costumes and the dancing and literally everything about musicals – is the songs that interrupt the story line. Major plot is happening on stage, and people just burst into song! People are talking and suddenly the lights drop, the violin starts, the cast freezes, and someone steps forward to share some internal character development. The interrupting solo is where we find out that Elsa is letting go of her fears, Maria loves Tony, Elphaba is done trying to make people happy, and Scar is definitely the villain. These solos are freeze-frame moments where a character pours out some secret and lets us know what’s really going on, and that this story arc is about to take a major turn.

The Christmas story is full of these musical interruptions, and this may be the biggest one. Scene: a bunch of random shepherds hanging out in the middle of the night (okay, maybe not a lot of plot going on here) and suddenly BAM! LIGHTS! TRUMPETS! ANGELS! SINGING! Maybe some heavenly choreography? Either way, the angel and heavenly chorus (and who doesn’t love some backup singers?!) are interrupting lives with an important message and a song: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Ordinary is over; it’s time for a celebration! The text is short and sweet, but it’s enough for a full dance number. Come to think of it, in a musical this would probably less likely be a solo and more likely the huge performance to finish off Act I. . . a secret exposed for the world to hear.

What kind of songs are you singing this Advent? Has this time of waiting been filled with cheerful songs of snowmen and reindeer and all the joys of the season? Songs of wishing and waiting for friends and family and reunions ahead? Or songs of lament and loss, knowing this Christmas is going to be different than the ones before?

Tonight, God has sent celebrity guest artists to sing a new and special song: a song of hope fulfilled, of resounding joy, of peace on earth. They’re singing out a song of Divine love, and the best part is, the audience is normal people. This song of hope, joy, peace and love? It’s meant for you and me. It’s here to disturb your regular daily action scene with an overwhelming love, to change the course of your life from mundane to glorious, to send you straight to the main event: the reckless love of God.

Thought for the Day: God’s love interrupts our daily life.

Prayer: Almighty God, interrupt our lives with your glorious and powerful love. Transform our old lives with your precious love, and send us forth as speakers of your great love. Amen.

Sarah Brosvic,
church musician