Day 10: Herald

One of my favorite parts of the Christmas story is the angels who heralded Christ’s birth. They did not make their announcement to those who had influence or power, but to a band of lowly shepherds on the night shift. First a single angel appeared, terrifying those men. Imagine the intense joy in that angel’s voice when he delivered his good news. Surely the tidings of the arrival of the Messiah from a single angelic being surrounded by the glory of the Lord would have made enough of an impression to the shepherds. But God had sent an exclamation point to really drive home the message. Luke 2 tells us that all of a sudden, one angel became a whole host of angels, singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Would you be terrified to see an entire army of angelic beings, and then to hear them open their mouths and sing? It’s just a guess, but I would venture to say that angel choirs are loud. The shepherds were spurred to action.

I love that in the song “Angels We Have Heard on High” Mary and Joseph are included in the traditional last verse as heralding the newborn Savior. That little baby would one day atone for the sins of his own earthly parents on the cross. May we all join them as fellow heralds of the good news of great joy!

Scriptures to consider:
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you, you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. 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 those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:8-14

Hymn to enjoy:
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

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
Him 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.

English lyrics by James Chadwick (1862); music from a traditional French melody

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