Ringing, Singing, On Its Way

Some years ago I asked my wife, Mary, which was her favorite Christmas carol. She replied, “I heard the bells on Christmas day.” Not being familiar with the authors and tunes of all of the carols, I was surprised when I discovered Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote it in 1863. At the time of its writing, his son was a lieutenant in the Army of the Potomac. He had been seriously wounded in battle. With the doubt of his son’s survival on his heart he was inspired to write this poem. He had no intention for it to be used as a carol; though we are all glad that it later was put to music and became such a favorite to many. Perhaps it is one of your favorites also. Here are the original five verses:


I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th'unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
'There is no peace on earth,'
I said 'For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.'

Then peeled the bells more loud and deep:
'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.'

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

After reading the text, I was drawn to the words of the Gospel of Mark as he recorded the discovery of the resurrection of Jesus:

“The next evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene and Salome and Mary the mother of James went out and purchased burial spices to put on Jesus' body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they came to the tomb. On the way they were discussing who would roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb. But when they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone – a very large one – had already been rolled aside. So they entered the tomb, and there on the right sat a young man clothed in a white robe. The women were startled, but the angel said, "Do not be so surprised. You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and give this message to his disciples, including Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died!" The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, saying nothing to anyone because they were too frightened to talk. Then they reported all these instructions briefly to Peter and his companions. Afterward Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life. Amen.” (Mark 16:1-8 NLV).

The Greeks had a race in their Olympic games that was unique. The winner was not the runner who finished first. It was the runner who finished with his torch still lit. I know that often the difficulties of life make it appear that our “torch” has been extinguished. However, the great truth of Christmas is that the light of the Babe of Bethlehem, our Savior, will never be extinguished. Indeed, on that night began the fulfillment of God’s promise to bring peace on earth to all men. Along with the angels ringing, singing, the world revolved from night to day!