Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Christmas time is here, or at least that's what the Peanuts tell me on the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack. Princeton Township has garlands of greenery and red bows hung all, the University held a Messiah Sing on Monday evening, and tonight is the Seminary Lessons and Carols service. Although nothing quite ushers in the season for me like Bill Robinson serving wassail and those delicious SAGA cream puffs, the snow and the bitter cold and the twinkly lights in the cafeteria are reminders that this is a wonderful season. When it comes down to it, though, what has me excited is seeing friends over the break and four weeks away from school.
I love the 4th century hymn "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" because it catches me off guard. It's not a jumpy joyful carol that you sing to the neighbors, and it's not one that we sing so often that trying to really listen to the words and think about the 'true meaning of Christmas' is near impossible. It's in a minor key, and is almost haunting, and its words epitomize that awe and wonder and trembling in the presence of God that should embody this season, and really all of the Christian life. The hymn calls me out of wherever I am physically, emotionally, spiritually, beyond the garlands and twinkly lights and reunions with friends. The words stop me in my tracks and remind me of whose I am.

Let all moral flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing early 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 heavenly 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 powers of hell my vanquish
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!