‘Silent Night’. It is one of the most beloved Christmas carols ever written, translated into over 300 languages.

It also captures a theme many long for during the hustle and bustle of the busy season of Christmas… Peace. Written by Joseph Mohr in 1816 while he overlooked the sleepy town of Mariapfarr, it would later be put to music and performed for the first time in 1818.

It has been sung by countless voices over the past two hundred years. Most notably on Christmas Eve 1914 when German, French and British troops along the Western Front had a Christmas truce. Amongst the conflict and chaos of war, all was calm and peace was found.

But is that the peace that we celebrate at Christmas time? Or is there a deeper peace that Jesus’ advent brings?