Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!

(Verse 3, O Holy Night, Translator: John S. Dwight; Author: Placide Cappeau 1847)

“O Holy Night” has become signature song of Christmas.  It is the soundtrack for shoppers.  It is the hymn of choice in church programs during the holy season of celebrating the birth of Christ. This song is also the favorite of contemporary singers in all genres and is the preferred choice to sing on their albums and portrayed as the last song to sing in their Christmas specials.   

Who wrote “O Holy Night” and why?  This is interesting…

Placide Cappeau France 1808-1877. Born at 8 p.m. On 10/25/1808, the son of a cooper (maker and restorer of barrels). He may have followed in his father’s business, but when eight years old, a playmate accidentally shot him in the hand with a gun he was playing with, and the hand had to be amputated. He followed an academic career instead. The shooter’s father paid for half his education, and he was able to attend town school and the College Royal d’Avignon.

Despite his handicap, he was awarded a first prize in drawing there. He studied literature in Nimes, and law in Paris, and was licensed to practice law in 1831. Instead, he became a merchant of wines and spirits, but his focus was really on literature. A parish priest, Father Petitjean, in Cappeau’s community, asked him to write a Christmas poem to celebrate the renovation of their organ, and he agreed to do it, despite being an avowed atheist and vocal anti-cleric.

He researched the book of Luke and wrote the lyrics to “O Holy night”. An opera singer, Emily Laurie, saw the text and asked a Jewish friend of hers to compose music for it, which he, remarkably, did. (Adolph Adam)  She sung it at a midnight mass three weeks later, and parishioners raved, but when Catholic church leaders found out it was written by an atheist, they banned it. However, its popularity only grew.

A side story: In 1906 Reginald Fessenden, a 33 year-old university professor and former chief chemist for Thomas Edison, did something thought impossible. Using a new type of generator, he spoke into a microphone and for the first time in history a voice was broadcast over the airwaves. And he read, from the book of Luke, “And it came to pass in those days, that a decree went out from Ceasar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.” He began, in a clear strong voice. Shocked radio operators on ships and wireless owners at newspapers, used to Morse code heard over tiny speakers, were interrupted by a speaking voice reading Luke and had no idea where it came from.

When the professor finished his reading, he picked up his violin and played “O Holy Night”.. the first song ever played over the air waves in the whole world. Imagine the surprise of listeners everywhere, never suspecting such a thing was possible.

When God is in it, the impossible becomes possible!  His Son, Jesus the Messiah, was sent to earth to seek and to save the lost.  We are all lost without Him.  But all who believe Him are found and redeemed and given the miraculous gift of eternal life.

“Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,

Paul is led by God’s Holy Spirit writes a letter of recommendation for Onesimus, a former slave to Philemon.  Paul is supporting Onesimus as a friend, companion, and now a brother—saved by the grace of Jesus Christ.  Everything has changed for Onesimus because of Jesus!

Philemon, The Message

^1-3 I, Paul, am a prisoner for the sake of Christ, here with my brother Timothy. I write this letter to you, Philemon, my good friend and companion in this work—also to our sister Apphia, to Archippus, a real trooper, and to the church that meets in your house. God’s best to you! Christ’s blessings on you!

^4-7 Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, “Oh, thank you, God!” I keep hearing of the love and faith you have for the Master Jesus, which brims over to other believers. And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it. Friend, you have no idea how good your love makes me feel, doubly so when I see your hospitality to fellow believers.

To Call the Slave Your Friend

^8-9 In line with all this I have a favor to ask of you. As Christ’s ambassador and now a prisoner for him, I wouldn’t hesitate to command this if I thought it necessary, but I’d rather make it a personal request.

^10-14 While here in jail, I’ve fathered a child, so to speak. And here he is, hand-carrying this letter—Onesimus! He was useless to you before; now he’s useful to both of us. I’m sending him back to you, but it feels like I’m cutting off my right arm in doing so. I wanted in the worst way to keep him here as your stand-in to help out while I’m in jail for the Message. But I didn’t want to do anything behind your back, make you do a good deed that you hadn’t willingly agreed to.

^15-16 Maybe it’s all for the best that you lost him for a while. You’re getting him back now for good—and no mere slave this time, but a true Christian brother! That’s what he was to me—he’ll be even more than that to you.

^17-20 So if you still consider me a comrade-in-arms, welcome him back as you would me. If he damaged anything or owes you anything, chalk it up to my account. This is my personal signature—Paul—and I stand behind it. (I don’t need to remind you, do I, that you owe your very life to me?) Do me this big favor, friend. You’ll be doing it for Christ, but it will also do my heart good.

^21-22 I know you well enough to know you will. You’ll probably go far beyond what I’ve written. And by the way, get a room ready for me. Because of your prayers, I fully expect to be your guest again.

^23-25 Epaphras, my cellmate in the cause of Christ, says hello. Also my coworkers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke. All the best to you from the Master, Jesus Christ!

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

It is we humans who rank and evaluate each other. God does not play favorites.  We are all equal to Jesus.  All have sinned and all are forgiven in Jesus Name! But we humans still insist on labeling for life, putting each other in boxes where we will reside unless a miracle happens.  These human labels judged categorically, critically based only on human criteria.  The labels stick until we come into the holy presence of Jesus who changes everything about us and gives us Hope, meaning, and value.  However, all our labels given to us by our community because of what we do suddenly melt away when we meet Jesus who calls us by name and receives us for who we are and will become in Him.    

O holy night! the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope- the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Jesus came down from the throne of heaven and moved into the neighborhood of humanity.  Jesus’ mission was to call us by name while bringing us out of oppression caused by our sins and the sins of others.  He forgives all sins and removes all human labels and give us a new identity: “Child of God, brothers and sisters and joint hears with Jesus”—for eternity!

Paul’s message to Philemon about his former slave, Onesimus, is meant to explain this miracle Jesus provided of redeeming grace.  May we all treat each other with grace.

Lord,

Transform our thinking until we no longer judge and label each other but lean on your understanding and wisdom as we learn to love each other like you love us—without human categories and ranking.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the Wise Men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend.
He knows our need— to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!