Photo by Myriam Zilles on Unsplash

Audio: iTunes | Spotify

Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

᛭ INI ᛭

The song of the angels continues among us! We join in that great angelic song. It’s part of our liturgy. It’s the first great clue that we’re part of something much larger than just our gathering. We’re also part of something far older than we are, or even this congregation is. We’re participants in the peace that passes understanding. We’re gifted with God’s goodwill, His gracious disposition towards us. We’re being brought into a glory that has no end.

All of this is because of what the angels preach and sing to the shepherds: “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord… Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” The only peace that counts, the only peace that passes understanding, is the peace that comes from Christ.

Peace often has a radically different meaning in the world. Peace revolves around countries and nations. There’s peace talks and negotiations. There’s peace through strength, a peace based on who’s in charge. In Christ’s day there was what’s called the Pax Romana (The Roman Peace), two centuries when the Roman Empire exerted enough control to establish general peace through out the empire. Caesar Augustus, nephew of Julius Caesar, was part of that, but even with the “Roman Peace” there was disquiet in Judaea, and the whole Roman world. All were being censused and taxed. With us it revolves around who’s been elected. Some think there will be peace because of who’s getting inaugurated in about a month, but there’s a whole slew of other people that think that will usher in a lack of peace. But no matter who’s in charge we pray for them for the same reason, not that there may be “peace on earth,” but that “we may lead quiet and peaceful lives, godly and dignified in every way.”

Worldly peace doesn’t actually matter all that much in the grand scheme of things. You can only say that because of what the angels preach and sing to the shepherds. “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord… Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” The only peace that counts, the only peace that passes understanding, is the peace that comes from Christ.

But let’s look at peace closer to home. Most of the time we’re at peace because of we have. “Many a person thinks that he has God and everything in abundance when he has money and possessions. He trusts in them and boasts about them with such firmness and assurance as to care for no one. [6] Such a person has a god by the name of “Mammon” (i.e., money and possessions; [Matthew 6:24]), on which he sets all his heart. [7] This is the most common idol on earth. He who has money and possessions feels secure [Luke 12:16–21] and is joyful and undismayed as though he were sitting in the midst of Paradise.” (LC I) In other words, that person’s at peace! If the opposite’s true and there’s lack of money or possess, how often peace is also in short supply! “[8] … he who has no money doubts and is despondent, as though he knew of no God. [9] For very few people can be found who are of good cheer and who neither mourn nor complain if they lack Mammon. This care and desire for money sticks and clings to our nature, right up to the grave.” (LC I)

Maybe there’s a reprieve from that during that holidays; maybe there isn’t! There’s more peace when everyone gets what they want for Christmas rather than if something’s missing under the tree. But this time of year there’s more peace in our lives depending on who’s at the table with us, or who’s present at our parties. Or maybe it’s only a shaky peace, right? A walking on eggshells sort of peace, where you’re glad someone’s there but you can’t really bring up what needs to for the sake of the pageantry of it all. Or maybe there’s a lack of peace because of who’s not there. Maybe they’ll be around eventually before Christmas ends on January 6th, or maybe you’re estranged, or maybe they can’t come to you and you’re waiting to join them in the nearer presence of Christ. Even in our own homes, there’s peace or lack of peace based on things of this world and life. Just like it was for Mary and Joseph: “No room for them in the inn,” no room for them among family, no room for them in the guest room, the guest house…

But again, none of that actually matters for peace. That’s some hard repentance on Christmas Day, but it’s true! Your relationships can all be weird or strained or in various stages of brokenness, but there can still be peace that endures in your heart and mind in spite of all of that! But that’s only because of what the angels preach and sing to the shepherds: “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord… Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” The only peace that counts, the only peace that passes understanding, is the peace that comes from Christ.

Christ Himself is your peace. He’s your peace on earth. He’s God’s goodwill toward you. He’s the glory of God the Father come down to earth that you might have access to the Father’s glory by the new birth of Baptism and faith. God’s peace and goodwill was delivered in Bethlehem. Peace was swaddled and placed in a food trough. “Christ by highest heaven adored, Christ the everlasting Lord” in a feed trough, surrounded by muck and manure, but even more than that, the sinless Son of God was bearing your sin and unrighteousness, even in His infant flesh. Flesh that would soon be pierced, on the 8th Day and Good Friday, to pay for your sins under the Law. He made peace between you and God, “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us… He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” (Col 2) He rose for your everlasting peace.

The song of the angels continues among us! We join in that great angelic song. It’s part of our liturgy. It’s the first great clue that we’re part of something much larger than just our gathering. We’re also part of something far older than we are, or even this congregation is. We’re participants in the peace that passes understanding. We’re gifted with God’s goodwill, His gracious disposition towards us. We’re being brought into a glory that has no end.

The angels gather with us whenever we gather. Singing the Gloria in Excelsis and the Sanctus aren’t just a preference. They confess and point to the fact that we’re singing with angels, and they with us, as well as the whole company of heaven! Believers who are with their Lord now, are not so absent from you here, as Christ bestows the peace that carries you through the sometimes turbulent holidays: “My body and blood for you, for the forgiveness of your sins.” God’s creates peace for your turbulent heart, He forgives you.

All of this is because of what the angels preach and sing to the shepherds. “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord… Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” The only peace that counts, the only peace that passes understanding, is the peace that comes from Christ. His birth and manger, His cross and death, His altar and Supper, that you would have peace not only in this life, but the everlasting peace you will enjoy with Christ in the life of the world to come.

᛭ INI ᛭