originally scheduled for Dec. 2

December 2 Advent thoughts

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men.’ Luke 2:13

Scripture talks a lot about angels. But at Christmas season we tend to take a lot of our information from carols and songs, much of which leaves a lot of desire, from a theological point of view. We envision angels singing and dancing, but those really aren’t exactly scripturally based. Heinrich Suso (1295-1366) is credited with writing ‘Good Christian Men, Rejoice’ . A Dominican monk from southern Germany, Suso had a dream one night where he was transported to heaven and there he was invited to join the angels singing and dancing to a melody. When he awoke, he write the tune and the words that the angels were dancing to. This carol would become on of the most popular carols throughout Europe well into the 20th century. But what talk of singing angels would be complete without mention of ‘Hark the Herald Angel’s Sing’? Or, more specifically, ‘Hark how all the Welkin rings’. This is the actual line that Charles Wesley, in 1734 will pen. It would be changed to the more familiar ‘Angels Sing’ by George Whitfield when he published the song a few years later. Whitfield, both a contemporary and-albeit ofttimes contentions-friend of Wesley, believed that the term ‘welkin’, an archaic term referring to heaven wouldn’t be understood by the common people. So, without Wesleys knowledge changed the wording. When Wesley, who was himself a theological giant found out, he was incensed because nowhere in scripture is there reference to angels singing. So upset was he with Whitfield that it is claimed Wesley refused for the rest of his life to sing the song. Whether the angels can sing or not, what we know is that humans HAVE been given this great gift of praise, to sing. And whether you personally think your voice is great or sounds like a crow, the Psalmist says to ‘make a joyful noise unto the Lord’. So this season, sing out. Make that joyful noise. It isn’t your friends or neighbors you want to impress. Praise God for this gift that He has given us, and rejoice.

‘Gloria, Gloria, to God on high’, how sweetly angels songs ring through the Christmas sky.

-Gloria, 17th C. Traditional Austrian carol