Some sounds easily spook Baxter. The sound of the vacuum cleaner drives him nuts. He runs and hides as soon as the motor is turned on. Loud sounds usually startle him. His head and ears go up. His eyes open wide. He is ready to run if the sound continues. Baxter also gets spooked by the sound of crackling plastic from water bottles being smashed or from packaging on various products being torn open. Generally, it must be the frequency at which the sound travels that sets him off, because some noises don’t raise any reaction. The fire siren, thunder, car horns--he sleeps right through all of these. For Baxter, some sounds, because they are unusual, are threatening even when there is no danger, and others, which are meant to signal danger, fit into the frequencies of his familiar world.
We are more discriminating when it comes to sounds that set us off. Nails on a chalk board can create an automatic reaction, but usually we hear in a certain context that tells us what the sound might mean. A siren going off in a parade signals fun and celebration. A siren in the dead of night marks an emergency. Car horns sounding can be a friendly “hello” or draw attention to our annoyance at another driver. A clap of thunder can be fascinating over the Grand Canyon but startling and frightful over the roof of our house. We hear more than frequencies. We hear meanings and intentions in the sounds of our world. As believers, we are called to hear God.
Our faith tradition throughout its long history has always held that God speaks to human beings. From the Word that brought forth creation, to the Word of the prophets that called for repentance and renewal, to the Word that became flesh in Jesus, God is sending a message to us in various ways. These are not just random sounds, but purposeful ones, like Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony whose movements carry through a theme to a triumphant “Ode to Joy”. God sounds a theme throughout history that reaches its crescendo in Christ and is heard in the song of the angels, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” This is the rich and full sound of the climax of human salvation that continues to be proclaimed until the end of time.
There are no scary noises in the sounds of Christmas, but the carols, greetings and bells have deeper meanings than a nostalgic melody or pleasant sound. They signal God’s closeness to our human condition, His power to overcome its darkness, and His promise never to abandon us to our sin and death. The sounds of Christmas speak a deep mystery of divine love so profound and intimate that it sounds like the human heart beating with the life-blood of divine grace, like a baby’s cooing over God’s delight with His creatures, like a cat’s purring for the perfect harmony of the creature and the Creator in the redemption of the universe.
At first, these deeper Christmas sounds may seem strange, but don’t be afraid. LISTEN!
