Isaiah 9:6 (English Standard Version) “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
This name for Jesus, Prince of Peace, is such a part of Advent for me—the anticipation of the coming birth of the Child. That name is in the music of George Frederic Handel’s The Messiah. I first heard and sang “For Unto Us a Child is Born” in a high school choir. It held much more meaning than the Christmas carols I’d heard my whole life. In the years since then, the joyous sound of many voices singing the soaring tones and words “And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” while a whole orchestra in the background is playing a completely different set of notes never fails to make me want to stand up and conduct the piece—even in my car! Hearing the words brings home the meaning of Advent, this time of waiting, filling my heart with hope—hope that peace will prevail, that God will bring his kingdom to us in full. Because a child is born for us. And once again, this year, even though there is darkness; even though there is oppression; even though our world still suffers war; even though things are not perfect, we can find peace—and we wait in hope for the Prince of Peace.
—Rev. Janeen Hill
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