Larry Devich
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Tuesday of Lent 5 - The Gloria in Excelsis
Re-read: Luke 2:1-20 (If you like, review the devotion 10)
“And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling
cloths, lying in a manger." (Lk. 2:12)
“Glory be to God on high; and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
That's what the angels sing to the shepherds outside of Bethlehem, and with
reason: the Savior is born. Christ the Lord is born in the world, for the world.
Immanuel is dwelling with His people, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying
in the manger.
Hearing the angels, the shepherds believe the Word they've heard and make
haste to Bethlehem. As we've said before, 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, blood pumped by a tiny human heart. 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.” 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 building up 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, as we mentioned previously, 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. You see, 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 there, in His Supper.
While the Gloria in Excelsis 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. ¶ 3/27/2007 07:41:00 AM 0 Comments
“And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling
cloths, lying in a manger." (Lk. 2:12)
“Glory be to God on high; and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
That's what the angels sing to the shepherds outside of Bethlehem, and with
reason: the Savior is born. Christ the Lord is born in the world, for the world.
Immanuel is dwelling with His people, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying
in the manger.
Hearing the angels, the shepherds believe the Word they've heard and make
haste to Bethlehem. As we've said before, 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, blood pumped by a tiny human heart. 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.” 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 building up 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, as we mentioned previously, 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. You see, 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 there, in His Supper.
While the Gloria in Excelsis 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. ¶ 3/27/2007 07:41:00 AM 0 Comments
“Thus in the Old Testament
faces of the Lord were
the pillar of fire,
the cloud,
and the mercy seat;
in the New Testament,
Baptism,
the Lord's Supper,
the ministry of the Word, and the like.
By means of these
God shows us,
as by a visible sign,
that He is with us,
takes care of us,
and is favorably inclined toward us.”
—Martin Luther (AE 1:309) ¶ 3/27/2007 07:39:00 AM 0 Comments
faces of the Lord were
the pillar of fire,
the cloud,
and the mercy seat;
in the New Testament,
Baptism,
the Lord's Supper,
the ministry of the Word, and the like.
By means of these
God shows us,
as by a visible sign,
that He is with us,
takes care of us,
and is favorably inclined toward us.”
—Martin Luther (AE 1:309) ¶ 3/27/2007 07:39:00 AM 0 Comments
