Our scripture this morning is Luke 2:13-14 (RSV).
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!”
It must have been an amazing event. Can you imagine the shepherds surprise and awe as the usually dark and quiet evening bursts with light and song from the sky? They heard a phrase from scripture that the prophet Isaiah attributed to the Heavenly Host some six hundred years prior: “And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory”” (Isaiah 6:3).
The angels sing of “peace among men”, a total well being, not simply an absence of hostilities, as the Filament Bible Commentary puts it. The people of that time lived under what is known as the Pax Romana – peace enforced by military might, the will of the Roman Empire administered through armed coercion.
God’s eternal gift is for us to accept, not pushed on us by superior force. Peace with Him is achieved through repentance for our sins and faith in His son who came to save us. We must choose to ask Him for forgiveness and willingly go in the name of Jesus Christ to share His love with the world. This is the way for us to please Him. Glory to God!
Heavenly Father, You love us so much that You were willing to do for us what the world can never do – forgive our sins and make us part of Your kingdom work. May we offer our praise and our energy that Your peace may come on earth. Amen.
