Sing a New Song

Advent Day 24

Fourth Tuesday in Advent

December 20, 2011

Reading: Psalm 33:2–4 (NRSV)

²Praise the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.

³Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

⁴For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.

Theme: Sing a New Song

Reflection:

Some of you know that my husband John is a Christmas music aficionado. He has been collecting for years, and now having an iPod and access to iTunes has given him totally new opportunities to acquire different renditions of Christmas carols. We usually play Christmas music in our house from the time Thanksgiving is over, throughout December and the entire Christmas season, until Epiphany. Even though we play Christmas music frequently during the season, each late November, the music is NEW again. Because we play this music for only a short season each year, it is special music that somehow helps to create the aura of Christmas.

It is hard for me to think of Advent without thinking of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and “Messiah.” There are certain German Christmas carols that just mean Christmas to me. I find it nearly impossible to sing “Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming” in English. When the music is played, I revert to German, and suddenly in my mind, I am standing next to my grandmother in the church of my childhood.

Music has the power to evoke powerful memories and thoughts in each of us. For people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, music is often their last contact with their memories. People who don’t recognize their relatives may be able to sing “Silent Night.”

Music is an important component of devotion and worship. It is a means of giving praise to God. In addition, words set to music have a way of enhancing the meaning of Biblical texts that surpasses mere oral reading of the passage.

We are in that transition time from Advent to Christmas. Savor these days and enjoy the music of the season (preferably not “Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer”). Let music be a form of worship and praise to God for you in these busy days. Sing along with the radio, your iPod, or whatever musical device you use. Give praise to God with the CD, iPod, iTunes, iSymphony or even your low tech voice! Make a joyful noise to the Lord. “Soon and Very Soon, we are going to see the Lord!”

Prayer: God of Glory, lift our spirits with song and help us to give praise to you with whatever musical instruments and devices are available to us. Amen