To me, the essence of Christmas Eve is Holy Communion and Silent Night sung by candle light.  Christmas Eve services are festive, joyful, even exuberant, but the characteristic that stands out for me is the hushed and holy silence as we contemplate the mystery of the Word made flesh.  In the moment of silence as the last strains of Silent Night fade away, as we stand holding our candles almost afraid to take a breath lest we break the spell, that’s the magical moment I anticipate and treasure.

Most of us don’t have too many times where we still ourselves and embrace the quiet moment, listening to what might be heard in the stillness. 

These words will reach most of you on the morning of Christmas Eve, but it will sit unread in a lot of inboxes because people are just too busy to read a corny devotional from their pastor on the day before Christmas.  For most people, these days surrounding Christmas and New Year’s are jammed with activity.  Shopping and meal preparation, family gatherings and ‘command performance’ appearances at obligatory office parties crowd every waking moment.  All this is added on top of the usual frantic pace of work and family responsibilities that go on all through the year.

Who has time for being still?  Who has the luxury of escaping the din and experiencing quiet?

I get it.  You won’t be getting any lectures from me about adopting some monastic vow of silence and a life of contemplation.  I’m as big a hypocrite as any preacher you can name, but even I would choke on the hypocrisy of urging you to adopt a contemplative life when I can hardly bring myself to sit still and listen for God’s leading as I struggle to write sermons and these little devotionals.

I don’t advocate hours of meditation for us mere mortals.  Instead, seek out the treasured moment – here and there, now and then – spent in silence and stillness while waiting and listening. This hiatus within the flow of our busy lives is what we need. 

Those quiet moments you spend listening to God will train you to recognize God’s voice even amid the swirl of noise and chaos that attends our daily life.  

Jesus wasn’t born to take us out of the world, but to meet us in the midst of it.

Prayer:  Emmanuel, whether seated in the silence of a darkened sanctuary or standing in a check-out line assailed by Christmas Muzak, open my senses that I might hear you and welcome your presence within me today.  Amen.