Today we meditate on the next step in the liturgy, The Gloria In Excelsis. This is an ancient song that paraphrases the song the angels sang at the birth of Jesus from Luke that says, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased" (Luke 2:14).  The Gloria in Divine Service Setting III sings, "Glory be to God on high: and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." These are the words of the angels. These are the words that are sung as the world welcomes God incarnate in the person of Jesus the Christ. The Gloria In Excelsis is sung by the church still today as we continue to receive the gifts of the Word made flesh, Jesus The Christ, for our eternal life and salvation.

For the song continues with our response to the angel's gospel singing, "We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee, for Thy great glory. O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty." This is the response of faith, to praise and thank God for this great gift, the gift of Jesus as our sacrificial lamb who dies that we may live forever. In Christ, God is our king and God is our Almighty Father. WE continuing singing and confessing, "O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us." These words are the sung confession of who Jesus is and the work He does for us. The work that He finished on the cross and now distributes to us in the Divine Service. We sing to Jesus, true God, begotten of the Father from all eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, who is our Lord and who has redeemed us. In the art work for this article today we see an image in the center of the angels singing. It is not the image of the baby Jesus in the manger, but instead baby Jesus holding the cross and wearing the victory death robe behind Him, showing that Jesus was born in order that He might die and rise to defeat sin, death, world, and the power of the devil. We finish the Gloria singing, "For thou only art holy, Thou only art the Lord, Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, are most high in the glory of God the Father, Amen." We close the hymn confessing that there is only One God who does this work of salvation and one God who therefore we are duty bound to thank, praise, serve, and obey. We sing to God, The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that comes to us in the Divine Service to forgive us all our sins and keep us in the one true faith until our life's end.

The Church continues to sing the Gloria because we welcome the same Incarnate Lord today in the Gospel proclaimed and the sacraments we receive. We welcome the same Word made flesh that comes to give us peace. We welcome the same Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem and wrapped up in clothes, as our Lord and King who is wrapped up in the means of grace. Another blessing we have in the Lutheran Church are two great hymns, 947 and 948, in the Lutheran Service Book, which are hymns written based off the Gloria. Luther wrote 948, saying, "All glory be to God alone, forevermore the highest one. Who did our sinful race befriend and grace and peace to us extend. Among us may His gracious will all hearts with deep thanksgiving fill" (LSB 948.1) As we sing it, the Gloria is all about Jesus' work for us. This is what the entire liturgy is about. It's all about Jesus forgiving us, saving us, and granting us peace that surpasses all understanding, even the understanding of the angels. What a blessing that we are given the gift of the Angel's song to continue singing until Christ calls us home to Himself in Heaven.

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only the voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "Come to me, you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull