Bells
by Tracy Young

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

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 the 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 pealed 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!

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

When I first moved into my neighborhood, I was so pleased to hear the peal of the bells from the church around the corner, chiming the time. Somehow, it made my neighborhood, which already had plenty of charm and convenience, even better. When I walk to the library a few blocks away, I'll often hear bells from yet another church ringing out hymns, and I'll find myself humming along.

There's something about hearing that ring of brass, that resonance rippling out over the neighborhood that makes me feel good; safe. With the church around the corner chiming throughout the day, there's a comforting regularity, a consistent, gentle reminder of presence. The church is there, always there, and it's five o' clock and all is well. When the bells are pealing out hymns, and I hum along, I'm brought into the constant song, the ongoing praising and glory of God throughout heaven and earth. That's what I like to think, anyway.

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime: Peace on earth! That's what I want my neighbors to hear when church bells ring out on Christmas morning. When they drive past the stained glass windows lit with votives or take a stroll by the nativity scenes in the church yard, I want them to think of peace and good will and justice and mercy. But no matter how pretty our chimes or how bright our windows, the message friends and strangers hear depends upon us - the folks gathering beneath that belfry.

So how do we make the peals of peace more loud and deep and not simply a false, dead clank? How do we get those "wild and sweet" words off the page and into practice? How do we even begin to truly claim peace on earth?

Isaiah tells us, “The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.” (Is 32:17)  The effect of righteousness - or as it is often translated, justice - will be peace. Peace will be proclaimed when we speak up with and for vulnerable people. It will sound out when we expose corruption and injustice against the poor. It will roll out when we are honest with our own corrupted lives and turn from sin. It will arrive when we practice reconciliation. It even comes when we take care with our daily choices, considering who had a hand in producing the things we purchase, or how something we do might impact the environment. From the large-scale to tiny decisions, we can pursue justice to effect peace. 

As we inch towards the joyful arrival of the Prince of Peace, we prepare the way for his entrance, peace by peace. We speak up for those who struggle, we speak out against oppressors, and we examine ourselves to see if we are among those who oppress. We repair relationships, we strive for healing, we serve our communities, we share the Good News. We do all these things in prayer and humility so that when the bells ring out on Christmas day, the world will indeed hear it as we do: Peace on Earth! Good will to all!

Prayer
Lord, though hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace of earth, we know that your love is so much stronger, and your peace will prevail. We also know what we are tasked with sounding out the message of peace, hope and love. Show us where we can pursue justice and peace today, whether it is in our own backyard or in a community across the world.

Pursue Peace
Use this Advent season to research and choose one justice group or organization to support in the New Year. For example, the Office of Social Justice offers prayer and action alert emails and occasional e-magazine covering social justice issues with resources and ideas for action. Bread for the World is an excellent US organization with deep CRC connections that follows legislation that affect the poor at home and around the world. Citizens for Public Justice in Canada is a Christian organization with CRC connections concerned with faith, justice and politics and offers helpful resources like an advocacy toolkit.

Tracy Young is communications consultant for Office of Social Justice.