"Angels We Have Heard on High

"Anonymous," a prolific writer, penned the words of a favorite Christmas carol, "Angels We Have Heard on High." Since the song was first published more than 150 years ago, it is safe to believe that "Anonymous" is singing in heaven’s choir this morning. Our unknown friend is still calling us to remember and reflect on what happened when Mary gave birth to Jesus.
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Refrain:
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heav’nly song?

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.

The refrain, "Gloria, in excelsis Deo!" is a doxology that soars gloriously, convincingly, triumphantly! For more than 20 years we enjoyed caroling as we walked the narrow streets of Newark, NJ, and Philadelphia, PA. One of the highlights for me was hearing Spirit-filled people singing into the night, "Glory to God! Glory to God! Glory to God!"

As the "Glories to God" careened against brick and mortar I was inwardly praying that the glory of God would penetrate facades of man-made fortresses. And, the glory of God often did find an obscure opening. People opened their doors and offered cookies while telling us we reminded them of their childhood experiences. Some of our neighbors wept. Darkness was dispelled for a few moments. The caroling experience reinforced my conviction, "The presence of God’s people guarantees the presence of God." We are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:13-16)

Tomorrow evening Pat and I will gather with many others and sing popular carols, read from the prophets and Gospels and light candles. I have the privilege of sharing a brief message in a service that is on every church’s highlight reel. I am preparing to share how one can live today and experience the glory of God.

"Glory" is abstract. How does one describe "glory," making it tangible, so real that others want to taste, touch, smell, hear and see the glorious One? To be sure, the Spirit must communicate, and I am sure He will. The Spirit dispatched an angelic choir to hillsides near Bethlehem summoning common shepherds to become eyewitnesses of God’s glory.

It is not a Christmas carol, but this December 23 I awoke with an old gospel song bouncing, no jumping, in my soul.
That God should love a sinner such as I
Should yearn to change my sorrow into bliss
Nor rest till He had planned to bring me nigh
How wonderful is love like this?

CHORUS
Such love, such wondrous love
Such love, such wondrous love
That God should love a sinner such as I
How wonderful is love like this.

That Christ should join so freely in the scheme
Although it meant His death on Calvary
Did ever human tongue find nobler theme
Than love divine that ransomed me?

That for a willful outcast such as I
The Father planned, the Savior bled and died
Redemption for a worthless slave to buy
Who long had law and grace defied.

And now He takes me to His heart a son
He asks me not to fill a servant’s place
The "Far-off country" wand’rings all are done
Wide open are His arms of grace.We won’t sing the song tomorrow night, but I just may quote a stanza or two! The glory of God, the in excelsis Deo interrupted unsuspecting shepherds plying their trade and the Spirit of God is still doing His work today. Glory to God in the Highest!