ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH

That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!”
 
Luke 2:8-12
 
Angels we have heard on high,
Singing sweetly through the night,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their brave delight.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
 
When the angels appeared to the shepherds, bringing them the Christmas message, their first reaction was fright. After calming their fears, the angels delivered the message of the good news: “The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born tonight in Bethlehem…”  This was an amazing announcement to them. They ran to the place where the angels told them they would find the baby. There they found Mary, Joseph and the Christ child, just as they had been told. What was their response? “The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.” (Luke 2:20)
 
What a transition in just a few hours. It started with the arrival of messengers who frightened them. They heard the good news.  They saw the baby in the manger. They were filled with praise and gave God the glory.
 
Has the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ touched your life in this way?
 
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the new-born King.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.