An Invitation to Silent Wonder

[I’m sure that none of us has remained untouched by the frenetic busyness that can accompany this time of year. In the following message, Fr. William Freburger reminds us why it is so important this Christmas for us to experience the gift of being still in silent wonder. I suggest we read it after reading meditatively Luke 2:19: “Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.”]

Luke’s Gospel account of the Christmas event is full of activity…And yet, in the middle of the frenetic action, here is this woman wrapped in mystical silence…She demonstrates the necessity of a quiet place within ourselves at Christmastime — that place where we are most ourselves in relation to God.

It is a place of silence, not because it is untouched by all the activity of our lives, but because it is capable of wonder. Every prayer begins with silent wonder before it turns to words. Our first response to God is dumbstruck awe at who God is and what God has done for us.

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The following three embedded videos are of a choir singing the Sir Henry Walford Davies tune for “O Little Town of Bethlehem;” a version of “Silent Night” being sung by a choir; and a version of “Silent Night” being sung by a congregation by candlelight.

At St. Paul’s, it would be our honour to help you carve out time for stillness in the midst of the busyness, to share the silent wonder of Mary. You can access information about our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Services by clicking here.