00:08
The bells start jingling.
00:10
Mariah starts singling.
00:12
Cinnamon and pine aromas
cause us to remember.
00:16
Families get tinseling,
excitement tingling.
00:18
For goodness' sake, it's only November.
00:21
Because from the eleventh
month the ballads begin.
00:24
Catchy Christmas choruses
cling to you and your kin.
00:28
Top to toe in tailbacks.
00:29
The boys of the NYPD choir.
00:31
Chestnuts roasting -
00:32
by now, surely burning - on an open fire.
00:36
Shakin Stevens, WHAM!, Bing Crosby,
00:38
Band Aid, Bublé, Slade.
00:40
Wizard, do you really wish it
could be Christmas everyday?
00:43
Think of all the shop assistants,
00:44
six weeks of it to get through!
00:47
"Tonight, thank God it's
them instead of you."
00:52
But above and around,
00:54
beneath and beyond the
modern Christmas ditty
00:57
is a deeper song, eternity long.
00:59
A melody of old, hear it unfold,
01:01
the greatest story ever told.
01:03
A hurting world, an angel's promise,
01:06
a family scandal, a husband's fright,
01:08
in the dark streets shineth
the everlasting light.
01:13
Where infinite influence
omnipotence suppressed,
01:18
the word becomes flesh in diapers dressed.
01:21
The fabled stable becomes
a crèche and blessed.
01:25
As majestic God assumes
assumes mortal guise,
01:27
lo within the manger lies,
01:30
He who built the starry skies.
01:34
See the real song of Christmas
is more than just a carol.
01:37
It's an anthem of atonement,
a refrain of redemption.
01:41
In our anguish heaven smiled.
01:43
The song's composer becomes a child.
01:46
Peace on earth and mercy mild.
01:48
God and sinners reconciled.
01:51
But the peril, the danger
of 'away in a manger',
01:54
is it can make our
Christmas story stranger,
01:57
and rearrange her from the game changer
01:59
heaven-hell exchanger she is.
02:01
Because the destiny of the Christmas baby
02:03
was to die in our lieu.
02:07
From fairytale birth to criminal's cross,
02:09
tonight, thank God it's
Him instead of you.
02:15
So in the musical sweatshirts,
02:17
the John Lewis adverts,
02:19
listen, remember the song.
02:22
In the activity remember the nativity
02:24
your pain and shame undone.
02:26
For to you a son is given.
02:28
Over you a song is sung.
02:31
But don't just remember,
02:33
respond and surrender,
02:35
for Christ the saviour is born.