No one really knows where the French word "noel" really came from. Some think it originated from the Old French word nael which means "birth." Others thing that it originated from the Old French word nouvelles which means "news." Either way the word "noel" has become synonymous with the good news about the birth of the Messiah that we sing about at Christmas. The best way for us to translate the word "noel" today is probably "good news" which is what the word "gospel" means and it refers back to the words the angel said to the shepherds "Behold, I bring you good news of great joy, for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord."
If we think about replacing the word "noel" in popular Christmas hymns with the phrase "good news" it may bring about deeper comprehension of the meaning of these hymns and the meaning of Christmas. For instance, "the first good news the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay...good news, good news, good news, good news, born is the King of Israel." Interestingly though, the hymn The First Noel is predominantly about the coming of the Magi to Bethlehem to pay homage to the Christ child and the phrase "good news" doesn't appear anywhere in Matthew's retelling of the story of the birth of Jesus.
Just as the term "good news" is absent in the Matthew's story of the birth of Jesus it often feels as if "good news" is absent from our world today as well. The 24 hour cable news cycle in America is constantly feeding us nothing but bad news and 2014 has been a year filled with lots of bad news to report. It would be easy to become fatalistic and cynical in a world that seems to care about nothing other than bad news. And yet just as in story of the birth of Christ in the gospel of Matthew, there is good news in our world today even though it's not always mentioned by name. Because of Christ, and those who follow him, there is always hope for a future free from hatred, division, hostility, racism, torture, violence, and war. There are instances of peace all around us when people seek unity in spite of their differences. There is joy to be discovered in the work of seeking the kingdom together, and we can see love anytime we find who someone cares more about others than they do about themselves. Don't let the bad news fool you into cynicism and despair! Christmas is a reminder to us every year that God is not done with the world yet. Christ keeps coming into the world over and over again in order to save it from itself and invites us to participate in the good work of spreading that good news with everyone.
What would it mean for us to live our lives in such a way that we will be good news to the world this year? How can we be good news to our spouses, good news to our parents, good news to our children, good news to our families, good news to our friends, good news to our churches, good news to our community, good news to the poor and vulnerable of the world?
Prayer: Lord, fill me with the presence of your Spirit, form me into your likeness, and make me a beacon of hope, peace, joy, and love that I might become good news for the sake of the world. Amen
The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay tending their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay tending their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Refrain:
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
Born is the King of Israel.
They lookèd up and saw a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Shining in the east, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
And by the light of that same star
Three Wise Men came from country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Three Wise Men came from country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.
This star drew nigh to the northwest,
Over Bethlehem it took its rest;
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.
Over Bethlehem it took its rest;
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.
Then did they know assuredly
Within that house the King did lie;
One entered it them for to see,
And found the Babe in poverty.
Within that house the King did lie;
One entered it them for to see,
And found the Babe in poverty.
Then entered in those Wise Men three,
Full reverently upon the knee,
And offered there, in His presence,
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Full reverently upon the knee,
And offered there, in His presence,
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Between an ox stall and an ass,
This Child truly there he was;
For want of clothing they did him lay
All in a manger, among the hay.
This Child truly there he was;
For want of clothing they did him lay
All in a manger, among the hay.
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
That hath made heaven and earth of naught,
And with his blood humankind hath bought.
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
That hath made heaven and earth of naught,
And with his blood humankind hath bought.
Rev. Benjamin Boswell
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