At last we come to the fourth Sunday of Advent.
If you’ve been following the full tradition and lighting candles around a wreath, today you light the final one, and create that beautiful staggered ring.
Today we remember the angels. Of course we started the Advent season thinking about the angel Gabriel, who brought the announcement to Mary that she would bear the Son of God.
Today, however, we remember the Angel Choir. After one (unnamed) angel told the Shepherds what to do, Luke 2:13-14 tells us that a choir of “multitudes” appeared, singing an anthem of praise to God.
On their own, the angels were impressive. And in such numbers they might have been overwhelming (the most common first words out of an angel’s mouth are “Fear not!”). I’m sure they sang in harmonies that would have made Mozart weep for the complexity, intricacy and beauty.
But today we look beyond the amazing angels to the message they sang:
- Peace on earth.
Such a thing to say! Through human eyes, there was no peace. The Romans walked the land as conquerors. Different factions of the Jews warred for control of the Jewish response to the situation. People hated and hit and hurled insults at one another.
And over all this, sin ruled in the heart of every human being. The entire world was opposed to God and running as hard as it could away from Him.
Peace is a precious commodity.
Scarce even.
But the Babe that was born was destined to tear down the diving wall between humanity and God. He would unite together a new people who would cross all lines and boundaries to become a people of God.
Finally the eternal question would have an answer. A way would be made for redemption.
The angels sang prophetically. They lifted up their voice to celebrate what God was going to do. But it was at hand, now. Not a far off prophecy.
So on this fourth Sunday of Advent we remember what the angels sang. Peace on earth! And we celebrate that God brought peace to us instead of the judgment and condemnation we deserve.
I pray that you will be filled with this peace this week.
Dennis
