Advent means many things to many people. One thing that came into my mind when thinking about Advent, is that much of my time during December and the run up to Christmas is preparing for the music and praise of Christmas- whether in a sacred or secular setting. Being a musician as well as a Christian, my advent is always jam-packed with rehearsals, concerts, services, etc. Either way, I want to think of it as the preparation for the coming of Jesus. Thus, I thought, how to begin my first post: What 'music' would Jesus have had around him during the run-up to his birth? What would Mary have heard as she made her way towards the city of David? Certainly, not the festive, exuberant, exciting or beautiful that I am privileged to be party to.
What would they have heard?
The flurry of activity preparing for a long journey- not sweet music, but a reminder of a difficult journey made at a most inconvenient time of late pregnancy.
The rhythmic beat of the trudge of the donkey as it made its long journey to Bethelehem. Monotonous, weary, heavier, uncomfortable, becoming more so as the minutes, hours, days went on.
Not the wassails of a visiting choir but the calls, shouts, hubbub, of a harassed people returning to Bethlehem, seeking shelter, finding food and water, queuing to sign the census, counted like cattle, pushing shoving, clamouring, seeking self. The confusion of where to go and who to see. A weary mother grows more weary. Did the child inside sense his mother's tiredness?
Not the sweet voices of a solo chorister but the vocal chorus of "No room" as the young husband led his young wife from inn to inn seeking sanctuary for the night.
A dry place located, the orchestra of cattle lend their braying symphony to the boy-king and his mother. A soprano chicken, an alto goat, a tenor sheep and the lusty moo of a bass cow as the mother nears the time of birth.
At last, the boy King is born: what does he hear? The rustle of scratchy hay as he is laid in the hard, wooden manger.
Is this music fit for a King?
But perhaps at this moment, perhaps He could, even at the tender age of birth, being the Son of the Creator, hear the chorus of angels singing 'Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on Earth?' The most exquisite music ever to be heard.
In all the musical aspects of my Christmas, let me not forget, not for one tiny moment, for whom I sing. For Him.
To see the other contributors, click on the link picture to go to Floss's blog.
