The words for the Christmas carol we know as Silent Night were first set down on paper in 1816 in the tiny Alpine village of Mariapfarr, Austria. The fame of this composition spread throughout the world, and nearly two centuries later, people are still touched by both the simplicity and the strength of its message.
With music added by Franz Xaver Gruber in 1818, Joseph Mohr created a song so powerful, it caused a World War I battle to temporarily cease as British and German soldiers sang of heavenly peace on Christmas Eve.
During World War II, fighting was suspended on many fronts while people around the globe turned to their radios on Christmas Eve to hear opera star Ernestine Schumann-Heink sing Stille Nacht. In addition to her status as an international opera star, Mme. Schumann-Heink was a mother with one son fighting for the Axis and another son fighting for the Allies. Her rendition of this inspired carol, first sung in the village of Oberndorf, Austria, had the power to bring a few moments of peace to a troubled world.
THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT
Even in His infancy Jesus' life was in peril. King Herod had heard from the Wise Men of the Child who "is born king of the Jews," and immediately decided to find and destroy Him. He told the Wise Men to return when they had located the Child, so that he too could adore Him. Meanwhile, however, God took steps to protect His Son from Herod's cruelty. Joseph, as he slept, was warned of the danger and directed to take the Child and His mother to Egypt. With complete trust and obedience, Joseph woke Mary and Jesus and prepared to leave Bethlehem at once. After six or seven days of exhausting travel they reached Memphis where, tradition tells us, they settled for the duration of their stay in Egypt.
Back in Jerusalem, Herod waited impatiently for the return of the Wise Men. As the days passed and they still did not come, his anger and frustration mounted. Now he was sure there was some plot afoot to dethrone him. In a blind rage he summoned the soldiers of his guard and ordered them to massacre all male children, two years old and under, in Bethlehem and its surrounding area. This measure, he felt sure, would eliminate the Child who threatened his throne. The cruel command was swiftly carried out and the innocent children shed their blood for Christ, the first of many martyrs for His Cause.
Shortly after his hideous crime Herod, tormented by disease, died in agony. His people rejoiced at their deliverance from his tyrannical rule. Those who had fled to escape his cruelty now began to return home. Among them were Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Back again in their native land, they settled in the village of Nazareth.
Of the many lessons we can learn from this episode in the life of Jesus, the utter trust in God shown by Joseph and Mary should, perhaps, receive our special consideration. They did not question this sudden command to move to Egypt. They did not ask how they could possibly arise in the middle of the night and set out for a strange land. They simply trusted in God and went at once.
Matthew 2
8 And he sent them to Bethelehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
12 And being warned of god in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying
OUT OF EGYPT HAVE I CALLED MY SON.
Also Listen to the beautiful Irish version of Silent Night [Oíche Chiún] by Enya
