Company of Angels
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Reflection:
Whereas an angel had revealed to Mary the special nature of the baby she would bring into the world, the passage today says a great company of heavenly host came down to celebrate his arrival. Of course, we know that all of heaven had waited for this moment for quite some time. And their refrain was "glory to God in the highest and peace to those on whom his favor rests." We see that Jesus' birth brought glory to God. We see that through Jesus, God would bring true peace to all those who received God's greatest gift to the world.
And then again today we see the shepherds not only receive this revelation from God, but they respond to it by going to Bethlehem and finding Mary and Joseph with the Baby Jesus just as the angel had said. They respond to it by glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard. Finally, they respond by telling to all who would listen about what had happened to them.
So here we see a pattern. Revelation and response. God reveals Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit and we respond in prayer and praise and passing on the Good News to others who would listen. All heaven rejoices today as well, when one person responds to God's love in Jesus Christ. It is not our job to reveal Jesus to anyone, it is only our job to pass on what we have experienced through God revealing himself to us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Notice too that it says,"and on peace to all on whom his favor rests".
Are you sensing the peace of God through Christ? Do you realize like Mary that you are highly favored? Do you hurry off like the shepherds to see Baby Jesus lying in a manger? God is not far from anyone of us. He has made himself known, and delights in sharing with us the love and fellowship that exists in His triune name. God wants for you and I to not just know about His love, but to experience it and then share it with all who would listen.
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Reflection:
Whereas an angel had revealed to Mary the special nature of the baby she would bring into the world, the passage today says a great company of heavenly host came down to celebrate his arrival. Of course, we know that all of heaven had waited for this moment for quite some time. And their refrain was "glory to God in the highest and peace to those on whom his favor rests." We see that Jesus' birth brought glory to God. We see that through Jesus, God would bring true peace to all those who received God's greatest gift to the world.
And then again today we see the shepherds not only receive this revelation from God, but they respond to it by going to Bethlehem and finding Mary and Joseph with the Baby Jesus just as the angel had said. They respond to it by glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard. Finally, they respond by telling to all who would listen about what had happened to them.
So here we see a pattern. Revelation and response. God reveals Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit and we respond in prayer and praise and passing on the Good News to others who would listen. All heaven rejoices today as well, when one person responds to God's love in Jesus Christ. It is not our job to reveal Jesus to anyone, it is only our job to pass on what we have experienced through God revealing himself to us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Notice too that it says,"and on peace to all on whom his favor rests".
Are you sensing the peace of God through Christ? Do you realize like Mary that you are highly favored? Do you hurry off like the shepherds to see Baby Jesus lying in a manger? God is not far from anyone of us. He has made himself known, and delights in sharing with us the love and fellowship that exists in His triune name. God wants for you and I to not just know about His love, but to experience it and then share it with all who would listen.
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