The Washington herald., 1907-12-01
A SUNDAY TALK.

And the angel said uuie them: Fear not; for. be
hold bring you tidings II ercat JOS, which shall
be 70 al people.-Lnke xi:lo
When we see the date. December T.
heading our Sunday newspaper we come
20 the realization that We are approach
Ing closely the holiday season; the sea-
son OF good cheer. OF peace on earth.
goodwill 10 man. II IS the closing
month Of the year and the closing time
Of the year; and everything about us in
our daily life bespeaks the change that
is coming on.
From our earliest glimpses OF the day
from this time on we can feel the holl-
day spirit in the very air: see ii in the
faces Of the people We meet by the way;
note IL in the shop windows, which add
so much TO our joys OF anticipation, and
as the short days come to their early
close. we can feel Il all the more in the
gathering twilight-those hushed hours
just before the dark that are so conducive
to thought OF higher and nobler things.
For. after all, though the Christmas
season Is primarily n festival of joy and
love and happiness. we shall do well. as
We approach it. to east our thoughts
back 10 that time. 1900 years ago. when,
as St. Luke tells US. there came an
angel OF the Lord 10 announce the com
ing of the Messiah, that coming which
the long-suffering chosen people" had
awaited for so many weary years The
Holy Land groaned under the tyranny
OF the Romans: the iron hand of Herod
lay heavy upon the people. and this mes
sage that at last He was 10 come. and
presumably was 10 lead them forth 20
victory against injustice must have
thrilled the whole Jewish nation with a
feryor Of Joy and pleasant anticipation.
Alas, SO often we TX our antieipations
too high, or allow them to wander in
impossible directions. Instead OF the
mighty people, full panoplied for war.
marching into Jerusalem at the head OF
mighty host before whom the soldiers
OF Herod might not hope 10 stand. here
was the Messiah, born IN a lowly stable
and Of poor parents; the lowliest Of the
low.
As that kingdom OF the Jews were
quite unable TO understand that God
works in mysterious ways. His wonders
10 perform and so set out in their dis
content 10 work out the greatest tragedy
that has been since the world began:
50, since that time, have many men In
many ages mistaken-through cgotstic
belief in the infallibnity OF their judg-
ments-the purposes OF God. and IT is
for US to-day 20 see that these lessons
awful and solemn 10 cOntemplate-are
not wasted. but have their uses in the
life we live.
II is very well for the poet TO sing
Ring out the sries that sars the mind
For those that here sec no more.
Ring out the feld # rich and poor
Ring in redress Tor all mankind.
Ring out slowly diving cause
And ancient forms Of party strife
Ring In the nohler modes % life
With swectsr manners purcr laws
But these things are In our own hands.
and il IS fine. at the approach OF the
Christmas season. 20 realize that through
the goodness of God il is given Us 20
work out our own salvation-to do His
work in the world among the poor. the
lowiy. the suffering. and the distressed.
Thus may we. too. be the bearers of
'tidings Of great Joy" and in our lives.
our examples. our work, help the old
world cheerfully and honestly along its
way.