And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God,

and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

According to the Law of the land, we are to sing praises with understanding (Psalms 47 : 7). Never is it more appropriate than at this particular time of year when we not only get wrapped up (no pun intended) in the commercialism of the season, but also the Spirituality of the miraculous events to which we celebrate Christmas (or Christ’s Mass) at all.

It has always seemed to me that the entire country turns from the work ethic to the playful one the last two months of the year, in that all anyone seems to want to think about the day after Halloween are the last three upcoming holidays that will eventually end an old year and begin a new one. There’ll be shopping and fellowship; celebrations and fond memories. The Ghost of past Christmases prevails upon the land; going to and fro where he may, touching the hearts and souls of all nations throughout the earth. And sometimes that touch becomes so real, so powerful that it makes a lasting impression on many of us to want to continue in the spirit of the season all year and all life long even with all the chaos and madness that surrounds us.

I’ve been touched that way for many years now, but lately that outpouring of Spiritual blessing seems to have overtaken me that I wish, like Scrooge, to keep Christmas in my heart all year through. It’s no surprise, or wonder to me that since August 2001, I’ve been playing the Christmas CDs on a daily basis. My little Lhasa Apso girl, Jia Tu (beautiful wild beast), seems calm and relaxed throughout the day as the familiar carols play; only getting excited upon my return home. But just let me have a moment of weakness and change to KISS or Meatloaf and watch her place her paws over her ears and howl her discomfort. She really does have full run of the house.

Recently, I’ve been interested in knowing the origins or stories behind many of the Christmas carols I sing along with during those rare moments when I’m physically at home with Jia Tu. When I come across a phrase that peaks my curiosity, I have to go digging into the research and meaning, so that the next time I play sing-a-long, I can do so with understanding.

One such phrase that has annoyed me throughout the years since childhood was the title song, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen. What exactly was the unknown author trying to tell us in this particular carol that I would belt out loud and off key with numerous other people in my life?

It was finally time to go off and do a bit of research for myself, else wander in an ignorant mire the rest of my pitiful days upon the earth...

All my life, I used to sing the song in one long verse, as in, God rest ye merry gentlemen... It was only after quite sometime that I actually noticed the comma after merry that the title and verse took on a different meaning more obscure than when I read it without a comma in the sentence.

Now, instead of reading it, God rest ye merry gentlemen, it was more like, God rest ye merry...gentlemen. This became even more confusing to me.

Words are powerful, and there are meanings behind them, but alas, in time their original intents are lost; sometimes changed from an entirely new meaning all together. With this particular carol, it was in the style of Old English, to that of around the Elizabethan era. The song is actually about 700 years old. Probably written by a monk or someone well versed in the Scriptures, as the common people of that time were totally ignorant of the Word of God, having to rely on what the priests told them during services.

Therefore, with that piece of insight that the song was of Old English origin, all that was needed was to know what the words rest and merry meant at that period of time in history in order to finish the puzzle and begin singing it with new understanding.

Several centuries ago, rest meant keep, while merry could be construed as happy, but in this case as to pertaining to the song, the word actually meant mighty or strong.

Armed with these newly rediscovered meanings, the title and thus the song actually does make sense, in that we can now say, God Keep You Mighty, Gentlemen. Let nothing in the world dismay you from moving forward in your intended goal of pressing the crown rights of King Jesus! For He was born for this day, this purpose to save all of us from the diminishing power of the demigod, Satan.

And let us not forget O tidings of comfort and joy, in which the word tidings actually represents, an account of what has taken place, and was not before known. That’s indeed a great comfort and joy to millions of people throughout the world.

During this joyful time of year, as many of us carol from house to house with family and friends, let us sing the praises that make up the body of Christ’s mass with renewed clarity and understanding.