Celebrating prayerful music for Advent

By KAITLIN KLEIN

WONDERFUL ADVENTURE

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand.
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descending
comes, our homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
in the body and the blood,
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heav’nly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
streams before him on the way,
as the Light of light descending
from the realms of endless day
comes, that pow’rs of hell may vanish,
as the shadows pass away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph,

cherubim with sleepless eye,

Veil their faces to the Presence,

As with ceaseless voice they cry,

"Alleluia! Alleluia!

Alleluia, Lord Most High!"

This song (“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”) can give me the chills. It quiets my heart and focuses my mind on the magnificent event we celebrate on Christmas. Traditionally a communion hymn, the lyrics center on the nativity – and I find it a prayerful piece of music for Advent. Meditating on the lyrics, slowly, one line at a time, or listening to the song (there are many versions available, but one of my favorites is by Sarah Kroger on the album “Origin” (A Beauty Initiative Within FOCUS) are ways I’ve found that help me ponder the Lord's humble coming. I use it as a lullaby when putting my kids to bed only during Advent, which, for me, is another way I can set apart this beautiful time of year.

God becoming man, the simple nativity story we hear told time and time again, is presented in an awesome and beautiful way in this song. I can envision myself standing just outside the manger, peering in with "fear and trembling,” as the Christ child begs me with his simple, humble power to focus only on him and set aside the things of earth. Advent is all about anticipating, a joyful anticipation of the moment the world changed forever, the day the devil trembled and the angels rejoiced. I must prepare myself for this day, for the coming of my savior. I must focus on Jesus and preparing my heart. In our churches and in our homes, there are many ways we can pray and direct our attention to the Lord through sights, sounds, and tastes. Come Christmas Eve, I hope that my quiet and deep anticipation can ring out an alleluia with the cherubim and seraphim. I pray we can have a fruitful Advent this year and embrace this beautiful time to draw close to the "King of kings yet born of Mary."