The Twelve Days of Christmas Carols: Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Today we return to a more exultant carol, telling the tale of the announcement of the angels concerning the birth of the Christ child. The mountains, representing all creation, return the song, "Glory to God in the highest!" In the moment the Son of God has descended to take on the flesh of man, He demonstrates His greatness and manifests His glory, now in a mode all men may witness.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

The first of men to sing the gloria are the shepherds, repeating the song of the angels in their joy, and, so the song tells us, their joy pushes them to continue their song to great lengths. The song they sing is that of heaven, and their proclaiming the glory of God in song is a sign of their humble openness to God's grace and willingness to see this glorious miracle of seemingly unmiraculous proportions. The Mystery of the Incarnation is that God does not show His glory in a flash of light and a burst of power, although He does manifest Himself in these ways through the angels, but they point as a sign to something less magnificent on the surface. When except here does a sign point to something less glorious? What is more valuable to a hungry man, the menu or the meal? A menu, which is hardly of any magnificence, even in a fancy eatery, points to the thing of real value, telling of all the delectables which may be purchased. Only in this moment of the Gospel does something so magnificent, so awe-inspiring point to something which seems so simplistic and lack-luster.

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

The King of Israel, the King of God's people, has been born in the city of David, our Eucharistic Lord born in Bethlehem, the House of Bread. Only a bended knee and the song of the angels is an adequate expression. Witness to the great humility of God, only a song of glory can be sung.

See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Christ Jesus has entrusted Himself to Mary and Joseph, and so shall we. They will help us this Christmas Season and beyond to praise the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ.

His Servant and Yours,

Micah