Peace On Earth, Good Will To Men
Peace on earth, good will to men! Do you know where that comes from?
The King James version of Luke 2:13 and 14 reads:
“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.”
Can you imagine that glorious moment?
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow did. In 1860, he lost his wife to a fire. Three years later, his son was wounded in the Civil War. In an attempt to pull himself out of despair, he penned the words to a beautiful Christmas Carol. It’s my personal favorite.
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!
All of us at Crown and the management of this radio station join to wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas filled with peace, the peace that passes all understanding.