Christmas gifts from unexpected places
Let the earth bless the Lord; let it sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, mountains and hills, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever . . . Bless the Lord, seas and rivers, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, you whales and all creatures that move in the waters, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, all birds of the air, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. — Daniel 3
One of my favorite parts of the Christmas season is preparing to sing with the parish choir for Midnight Mass. Every year I pray that we will have the opportunity to sing one of my favorite carols, O, Holy Night. Aside from the beautiful musical composition, the words were written by a simple French wine seller and have always reminded me of the power of the Holy Spirit to work in anyone whose heart is open to God.
This year the song has been part of a very special Christmas gift.
One day last week, after a particularly long day at work, exacerbated by some frustrating family problems and concerns for friends suffering with serious illness, I slid into my car with a sigh and somberly stared out the window.
The sky was just beginning to slip into darkness and the Christmas spirit seemed to have seeped out of me before getting off the elevator. I chastised myself for the inability to shake off my melancholia. It was almost Christmas, for heaven’s sake.
Then, as I turned the key in the ignition, I heard the sweet melody of O, Holy Night, and I felt my sadness begin to melt away. That in itself was a gift.
But God is never outdone in generosity. Suddenly, against the shimmering backdrop of the setting sun and in near perfect rhythm with the music, a hawk appeared directly before my window.
His graceful patterns of swoops and hovering seemed like a beautiful winged ballet, diving, soaring and returning again and again, until he, like the music, faded into the darkening sky.
In those few minutes, as I watched, mesmerized by his beauty, it was as if this graceful creature was singing his own praises to God and reminding me that every night is holy.
I heard the words of the song, “Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace . . . Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, With all our hearts we praise His holy name.”
Though only a simple creature of God, there seemed to be a joy in his dance that came from being just that — a creature of God — and in that joy a song of praise. His presence reminded me of the words of Scripture, “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6), and the words of another ancient song:
“Then all my gladsome way along I sing aloud thy praises, that men may hear the grateful song, my voice unwearied raises: be joyful in the Lord, my heart! Both soul and body bear your part! To God all praise and glory.”
Be joyful in the Lord, my heart! This was the real gift, unexpected though it may have been — the reminder, the encouragement to always sing praise to God with joy in the heart.
Legend says this is the same gift St. Francis gave to the birds when, standing among them, he preached:
“My little sisters the birds, ye owe much to God, your Creator, and ye ought to sing his praise at all times and in all places, because he has given you liberty to fly about into all places; and though ye neither spin nor sew, he has given you a twofold and a threefold clothing for yourselves and for your offspring.
“Two of all your species he sent into the Ark with Noah that you might not be lost to the world; besides which, he feeds you, though ye neither sow nor reap. He has given you fountains and rivers to quench your thirst, mountains and valleys in which to take refuge and trees in which to build your nests; so that your Creator loves you much, having thus favored you with such bounties. Beware, my little sisters, of the sin of ingratitude, and study always to give praise to God.”
May we all take St. Francis’ words to heart, and may this Christmas be filled with praise, joy and gifts from the most unexpected places!
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law