Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will fi nd rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28–30 (NRSV)
In the Christmas carol “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” there is a little-known verse that contains this phrase: “Oh, hush the noise, ye men of strife, and hear the angels.” The idea is that there is so much noise in our lives, and especially at Christmastime, that we may miss the message the angels brought to the shepherds and to us down through the ages–the good news for all people, that Jesus is born.
I like to sing this verse on the last Sunday of Advent, when Christmas festivities seem to ramp up at their most frenetic pace. It’s a great reminder, and a great admonition. Noise doesn’t hush on its own. We have to be deliberate about hushing it. Will we be carried away by the rolling tide of a modern consumer Christmas? Once again, our source of strength is silence and trust in Jesus.
The invitation always stands: Come to Me. Rest.
In Him we find the power to hush the noise. The wisdom to discern when and how and even whom to hush that the angels’ message can be heard in our hearts: Peace… Goodwill… A Savior is born.
Faith step: Take a few moments to “hush the noise” in your life today, and listen to the voice of Jesus inviting you into His rest.
