And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people:
και ειπεν αυτοις ο αγγελος μη φοβεισθε ιδου γαρ ευαγγελιζομαι υμιν χαραν μεγαλην ητις εσται παντι τω λαω
10 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The angel proclaimed a message of immense joy intended for all humanity, especially for God's chosen people. However, not every Jew is considered part of God's people. Nevertheless, the incarnation of God brought joy to the entire human race.
I will commence my reflection by referencing the words found in the Psalms, ‘Let us praise the Lord, and sing to God our Saviour,’ for He is the cornerstone of our celebration. Therefore, let us proclaim His mighty deeds and the wondrous plan through which He has redeemed the world, placing upon us the mantle of His kingdom—an honor that deserves our utmost reverence.
Thus, the blessed David proclaims in the Psalms, ‘All ye men applaud’; he also adds, ‘Sing with understanding, God hath set a king over all the Gentiles.’ This sacred mystery was carried out with the wisdom perfectly suited to Christ, affirming that although He is God, He has manifested among us, and while holding the divine essence of the Father, and possessing unmatched and universal greatness, He took on the form of a servant. Nevertheless, He remained both God and Lord, for He did not cease to be who He truly is.
The angel spoke to them, assuring them, “Do not fear; I bring you tidings of great joy that will be for everyone. Listen now to what this joyful message entails.”
The vision of the saints offers a sense of calm rather than causing disturbance; it does not raise its voice or make itself known in public (Isaiah 42:2). This vision is quiet and momentary, bringing immediate feelings of joy, jubilation, and strength to the spirit. The presence of the Lord is felt here, as joy embodies the power of God the Father for us. God's thoughts are perpetually tranquil and serene; when grace illuminates the heart, it allows the soul to perceive divine manifestations. Consequently, a yearning for heavenly blessings enters the soul, which strives to draw nearer to these celestial gifts in every conceivable manner—if only it could pursue them. Some individuals experience fear in the face of divine goodness; hence, these apparitions dispel fear to cultivate love.
Thus, Gabriel reassured Zacharias, "Do not be afraid" (Lk. 1:13); the angel at the tomb assured the Myrrh-bearing women not to fear (Mt. 28:5); and the angel reassured the shepherds at Christ's birth, saying, "Do not be afraid" (Lk. 2:10). Such trembling does not stem from the soul’s cowardice but rather from recognizing the presence of the Divine. This epitomizes the vision of the saints. In contrast, the incursions of evil are marked by clamorous sounds, shouting, and uproar—characteristics typical of undisciplined youth or thieving brigands. Such turmoil terrifies a distressed soul, leaving it disoriented and chaotic, leading to resentment towards the ascetic life, bouts of despair, anger at home, and an apprehension of death. In this state, one may crave wickedness, shunning any mention of virtue and succumbing to immorality.
The angel comforts the shepherds in a manner similar to how he previously comforted Zacharias, declaring, "Do not be afraid, for I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people," which refers not only to the inhabitants of Judaea but likely encompasses all of humanity. This message aligns with the Gospel accounts detailing the events surrounding the earthly existence of Jesus Christ. The shepherds' worship at the time of Christ's birth reflects this profound moment.
From the outset, God did not proclaim the birth of His Son to the wealthy and learned in Bethlehem, as their pride, greed, and stinginess would have posed a significant barrier to approaching the needy, suffering, and lowly Savior. Instead, the announcement was first made to the shepherds—humble, simple laborers who were well-prepared to embrace the profound truths of faith with sincerity and passion. These truths are often revealed to the humble and concealed from the mighty.
The shepherds of Bethlehem, the first to hear the divine announcement of the Savior's birth, must have been genuinely devout individuals, true Israelites, who fervently longed for and anticipated the arrival of the promised Messiah. It is likely that during quiet nights, under the glow of celestial bodies, they engaged in reflective meditations and discussions centered around their sacred hopes and longings. This attitude undoubtedly cultivated an openness in their hearts to receive the celestial tidings of the Redeemer’s birth. One night, while they were vigilantly watching over their flocks, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, enveloped in the brilliance of the Lord's glory. The suddenness and intensity of this apparition would have naturally instilled fear within them.
Their awareness of their own impurity and sinfulness in the sight of God, which in Old Testament thought led to the belief that seeing God would lead to death (Judges 13:22), may have compounded this fear, causing them to view the heavenly visitation as an ominous sign. However, the angel comforted them, proclaiming good news of great joy for all people. He revealed that the source of this joy was the birth of the Savior, referred to as Christ the Lord (cf. 2:26), in the city of David. These words were intended to evoke the prophecy of Micah (Micah 5:1), which, as indicated in Matthew 2:5, was a key Messianic prophecy that resonated with contemporary Jewish belief. The angel discerned both their faith and deep longing to witness the reality of the momentous event and therefore provided them with a sign so they could identify the newborn Child of God and recognize Him as the Messiah: "you will find a child in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
The brilliant light that enveloped the angel in the night's darkness startled the shepherds, but the angel quickly comforted them, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11). Through these words, the angel helped them grasp the true significance of the Messiah, who came not solely for the Jews but for everyone, bringing joy to all who wholeheartedly receive Him as their Saviour and place their faith in Him.
In an unexpected moment, amidst the stillness of night, an angel of the Lord manifested to them, and the glory of the Lord illuminated the surroundings. This sudden revelation filled them with profound fear, yet the angel swiftly comforted them, proclaiming, “Do not be afraid; I bring you news of great joy for all people: today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find the Child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” As they absorbed this remarkable announcement, without time for contemplation, a new sign appeared, miraculously affirming the angel’s message.
The night sky, filled with countless stars, was suddenly bathed in an incomprehensibly brilliant light, revealing a vast assembly of heavenly beings, and the air resonated with a triumphant angelic hymn, proclaiming the dawn of a new chapter in human history: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” In the celestial realms, a solemn divine service unfolded, reminiscent of those conducted in the temple of Jerusalem. When the offering was placed upon the altar, sacred music echoed through three distinct proclamations, marked by the clarion call of the priests' silver trumpet, where the sacred chant resembled the ‘Trisagion.’ The angelic song also reflected this ‘Trisagion’ structure in its three phrases, encompassing the three vital domains of existence: heaven, earth, and the human spirit. Throughout the entirety of Old Testament history, there exists but one other occasion when a mortal was graced to hear the harmonies of the heavenly realm. This was during the prophet Isaiah's ecstatic vision, when he beheld the glory of the Lord of hosts as the seraphim surrounding Him continually proclaimed, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts! The whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:1-3)! In that moment, the very thresholds trembled at these thunderous declarations, and the prophet's heart quaked with fear. Now, however, the angelic melody heard by the humble shepherds filled their hearts with a profound sense of bliss, joy, and tranquility.
"Do not fear, for" etc.: see Luke 1:13-14. "To everyone" refers specifically to all the people (παντὶ τῶλαν), meaning Israel (see Luke 2:31-32), and through Israel, it extends to all humanity.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 18 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS