ANNO DOMINE!

Hola, y'all.

On this night of hope and salvation 
One child lies embraced in a dream
Where each man regardless of station 
On this night can now be redeemed
Where every man regardless of his nation,
Ancestral relations
On this night the past can fly away
And that dream we’ve dreamed most
That every child is held close
On this night that dream won’t be betrayed

All as one!
Raise your voices! Raise your voices!
All as one On this Christmas Day!

All rejoice
Raise your voices! Raise your voices!
All rejoice! Anno Domine!

On this night when no child’s forgotten
No dream sleeps where he cannot see
No man here is misbegotten
And this night’s dreams are still yet to be
Where every man regardless of his nation,
Ancestral relations
On this night the past can fly away
And that dream we’ve dreamed most
That every child is held close
On this night that dream won’t be betrayed

All as one!
Raise your voices! Raise your voices!
All as one On this Christmas Day!

All rejoice!
Raise your voices! Raise your voices!
All rejoice! Anno Domine!

"Anno Domine"

from the album The Lost Christmas Eve

by Trans Siberian Orchestra
Emphasis mine

A few weeks back, while listening through one of my more favorite Christmas albums, this choral piece really stood out for me.  Partially because of the way it's sung -- sounds like it's a men's choir, but sung strongly, confidently.  Not wishy-washy nor dramatic, more of an unrepentant proclamation of what has happened.  But as I kept listening, and read the lyrics, it really struck me as to the personal importance of Christmas.  Regardless of who you are, what you are, whose roots you can trace back to, or where you come from, the birth of a little baby starts the process not just of forgiveness, but redemption.  Beyond "I forgive you," to the point of "It never happened."

Your (sinful) past -- gone.
Your (redeemed) future -- assured.
Your fears of being alone -- baseless.
The presence of a constant companion -- confirmed.

Don't forget -- Christmas is only half of the story, half of the prophacy fulfilled.  The rest of the story comes on Easter morning.  But in the meantime, revel in all the presents under (and on) the tree.

Merry Christmas, y'all.

Greg.