Peace and Goodwill

Peace and Goodwill

“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:14

It was the middle of the night; the sky was the purple black that appears once no remnants of the setting sun are left. It is dotted with starry points of light, and quiet. It was the time of night very few experience; either because they are sleeping, or are safe and warm within their homes. But, the few times we have lingered outside, far away from city lights and far past midnight, we understand the magical quiet and peace which that hour of darkness can possess.

But the shepherds were accustomed to being awake during this time. Perhaps they took shifts; once staying awake while others slept. They did not herd the sheep, nor feed them, nor lead them to water; they only needed to guard them and keep them safe. It was a quiet duty, and perhaps it gave them opportunities for silent contemplation.

Of course, the story is nearly known by all, how the Angel of the Lord appeared out of nowhere, standing in front of them with the brilliant light of God’s glory breaking that quiet darkness. The shepherds were startled, to say the least. The Scriptures says they were extremely afraid.

This makes me wonder about people who long for encounters with angels because almost every time we see on in Scripture, the first thing the angel says is, “Don’t be afraid!” I’m not sure how much fear our contemporary depiction of angels would strike into the hearts of people. A beautiful blonde haired woman descending like Peter Pan on theater wire, dressed in white satin with gorgeous fully butterfly wings; I just don’t think I would tremble in my boots.

No, the appearance of angels the shepherds saw was something perhaps more beautiful than the images we conjure. Brighter than any sun. More glorious than any painted vision. More powerful than the rumbling thunder. With all that glory, the angel appears in the hushed darkness, breaking the quiet with the power of a million choirs: “Don’t be afraid! I have wonderful news for you that is full of joy. Today, the Savior, Christ the Lord, is born in David’s city!”

Wrapped in the normal swaddling of any infant, he would not be found in one of the family homes in Bethlehem. Instead, he is spending his first few days lying in a feeding trough. That is where the angels told the Shepherds to look for him.

Stunned by the message, and before they can even process it, a million more angels called the Heavenly Host, joined the announcement and praised God together:” Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” And, as suddenly as they arrived, they were gone.

The sky was dark again, the night quiet and the air cool. The shepherds huddled for just a moment and, without much discussion at all, hurried off to Bethlehem.

I wonder, dear Christian, do we express the same sentiment as the angels this time of year? Do we excitedly expect that the events we celebrate are truly what bring God His highest glory? There is much read and written about the “end times” and people get caught up in the power of Jesus’ return. But, here, announcing His coming as the tiny child with tiny hands, the angels sing Glory to God in the Highest. Oh that we would know in our hearts that God coming among us a human, as a fragile, breakable child brings incredible glory to God and to mankind. We are recipients of compassion far higher than ever imagined. God, becoming man, dwelling with us, has touched us personally through Christ.

God’s purpose in all of this? “Peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” We have the joy, the privilege of sharing the peace God gives every time this season comes around. I’ve stopped being grumpy about whether people say “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas”. I’ve stopped complaining that schools or governments don’t make Jesus their first priority during this season.

Instead, I am learning that I should be first in line to express God’s peace to the world which is so disrupted. I get to express the goodwill God has toward every human, letting them know that, just as the angels said, a Savior has been born. A Savior who came to bring peace where there is conflict, goodwill where hurt has been inflicted. God has come, God is here, Jesus is the author of Peace and Goodwill.