The Three Fold Angelic Message

“Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace,

Good will toward men”.

This astonishing hymn has been shouted out by the angels on the Nativity of Our Lord in Bethlehem. They were surprised by God’s immense plan to dwell among men in such a way. Their shout was a kind of receiving this news and this fact. It was a humble reception to the One who chose to come in a humble way and live humbly with us.

This angelic hymn was addressed to the shepherd whom, upon hearing the message, went straight away to meet with Mary, Joseph and the new born child. This hymn exhorted them to call each other, to go to the manger and then to proclaim what they have seen and heard. Meditating this angelic hymn, we realize its three fold message:

• “Glory to God in the Highest”: glorification is the utmost prayer that a creature can address to his Creator. It expresses our gratitude to God for creating us and bestowing his grace on us in every single moment of our life. The angels summons us to such an act of thanksgiving. The Divine Liturgy, “the Sacrament of Thanksgiving” as it is called, is the Church’s comprehension and materialization of this hymn. How best can we afford praising and glorifying God if not by accepting His invitation to participate in His Supper that he has prepared for us and to praise him for such a love?

• “Peace on Earth”: the incarnation is the utmost “good news”. Our Lord’s nativity brings peace to earth and establishes it. Peace is the sign of God’s Kingdom. Our Lord is the King of Peace dwelling among us. After having lost peace with one’s self, with our fellow men and with God, Jesus brought His peace that none can take away from us and healed all broken conscious, hearts and relations. This peace is again and again given to us in the Liturgy, “peace to all” as the priest addresses us, and also whenever we remedy to our broken hearts, conscious and relations by repentance, forgiveness and much love. Who is not in need of such a peace? Everyone is, for sure. In Church, we can live it, acquire it and spread it around.

•  “Good will toward men”: Now a new era begins. We are no more slaves, but free, no more in the darkness, but in the light; no more abandoned, but saved. All the richness of God has been given to man. Man responses by showing and proving his good will. God’s good will and men’s good will can go along, together. We should reflect the impact of such a synergy in our life. If light has shown in our heart, it should spread everywhere. If hope grew in our heart, it should withstand and upholds our community and our communion.

This angelic hymn is so concrete, so deep, and so heavenly that it enters our being and becomes our own prayer, praise and insight. Do we need angels again to proclaim such a fact, truth and good news? No, we will from now on proclaim God’s plan, generosity and love to us. We will be his missionaries, especially here in our beloved Church in Argentina.

This good news –Christ Nativity- urges us to show our good will, our good heart, our working hand for peace, prayer and solidarity. We can concrete this angelic hymn in our heart and our life, at home and at Church. We should not lose this opportunity; otherwise our celebration will not take place in the cave of Bethlehem, but in Jerusalem that did not receive the good news as it should.

May the Incarnate Lord shine the light of Truth, forgiveness and love in your hearts. Amen.

+ Siluan