Thoughts on the Divine Service
8. The Gloria in Excelsis
Dear friends,
Christmas is not very far away—Advent begins two weeks from tomorrow, so soon we will hear again the story of shepherds in the field, watching their flocks by night (Luke 2:8). In the Old Testament, the shepherd’s vocation is a fairly honorable one: when David begins Psalm 23 with “The Lord is my shepherd,” nobody hears that to mean that the Almighty can’t find a better job.
A thousand years later at the time of Jesus’ birth, it seems the profession has taken a hit. Shepherds are no longer held in high esteem, and shepherds on the night shift don’t get a lot of respect. It could be worse—they could be beggars crying for mercy, but they’re not going to get an invitation to a high-society dinner anytime soon. Nevertheless, it’s to these shepherds that angels appear and sing:
“Glory be to God on high; and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
They sing with good reason: the Savior is born. Christ the Lord is born in the world, for the world. Immanuel now dwells with His people, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
Hearing the angels, the shepherds believe the Word they've heard and make haste to Bethlehem. That's what faith does: it wants to be in the Savior's presence, receiving His grace. So the shepherds go and find their Savior—a baby immobilized in swaddling clothes, lying in a feedbox. He doesn't look like much; but the Word proclaimed by angels says that this is the Son of God with an infant body, with a tiny human heart pumping blood through his veins. Forget how He appears: this is the Savior.
In the liturgy, we echo the song of the angels, singing “Glory be to God on high [which in Latin is “Gloria in excelsis Deo”], and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” (On a bit of a nerdy note, the pastor gets a solo at the start of this Gloria, chanting “Glory be to God on high.” It’s a nod that the word “angel” means “messenger,” and the pastor—though not an angelic creature(!)—is called to be the messenger who tells people about the Savior.) Just like the Kyrie, the Gloria in Excelsis is a proclamation that the Savior is present—identifiably present. As shepherds looked into the manger, we look to the means of grace. Even more specifically and joyfully, as the shepherds looked into the manger and saw their Savior with body and blood, the liturgy is gradually building to the Lord's Supper, where we receive that same body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.
Now, bread and wine look no more like the place of God's presence than an infant's flesh and blood; and, in fact, many believe that bread and wine are only signs of Jesus, nothing more. But note the angel's words in Luke 2:12, for the angel calls the Baby a sign—and there is no doubt that the Lord is present there. Signs often indicate a presence, not an absence. An exit sign doesn't lead to a brick wall, but to a door. The sign of the Baby indicates Jesus is there, born in Bethlehem. The signs of bread and wine mean that He is present, in His Supper, with His body and blood.
In the Kyrie, we sang the song of beggars to rejoice that God is merciful. Now in the Gloria, we sing the song of the shepherds; and having been reminded of the angels’ message, the rest of the Gloria is a hymn of praise to God.
While the Gloria in Excelsis thus holds joy for all Christians, it is certainly an encouragement for those who are beaten down, depressed, made to feel of low worth. When we are brought low, the devil tempts us to believe that the Lord is nowhere near; or that He wouldn't help such fools as us; or that you're going to have to clean up your act and get better before the Lord has grace for you. The devil remains a liar and sore loser, and the Gloria calls his bluff. As the angel said to lowly shepherds, so it is true for you: the Savior was born unto you, for you. He does not remain in heaven, hoping you shape up; instead, He visits you in His Word to say, “I forgive you.” He visits you in His Supper to say, “This body and blood are given and shed for you.”Your Savior, who made you His in Baptism, is not far away. By Word and Sacrament, He gives you the peace and goodwill He won at the cross. What joy!