Each of us has favorite Advent and Christmas hymns and carols. Some are silly (“Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” anyone?) or particular to our family history. Some can set us to dancing and singing with gusto, bursting with joy at the birth of the Savior. And some bring us to stillness and awe as we stand before the mystery that is the Incarnation.

One such hymn for me is “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”. The words and the melody cause me to slow down, to pause in the frantic rush that is the modern-day celebration of Christmas. And in that holy stillness, I am brought to a place of worship and reverence. For ultimately, that is the only response to the birth of this child. There could be no gifts under the tree, darkness could threaten the land or my very soul, and yet the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5).

The text of the hymn is below. I imagine you can find a version online so you can hear the melody. May all of us take time in the days ahead to slow down and ponder the wonder that Christ our God to earth descendeth.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
 and with fear and trembling stand;
 ponder nothing earthly minded,
 for, with blessing in His hand,
 Christ our God to earth descendeth,
 our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
 as of old on earth He stood,
 Lord of lords, in human vesture,
 in the body and the blood.
 He will give to all the faithful
 His own self for heav'nly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
 spreads its vanguard on the way,
 as the Light of light descendeth
 from the realms of endless day,
 that the pow'rs of hell may vanish
 as the darkness clears away.

At His feet the six-winged seraph,
 cherubim with sleepless eye,
 veil their faces to the Presence,
 as with ceaseless voice they cry,
 “Alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia, Lord Most High!”