Luke 2:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Some may challenge this by saying, "The one now born was merely an infant, swaddled and lying in a manger; how could the heavenly hosts glorify Him as God?" Yet we firmly uphold our position. Grasp the magnitude of the mystery! God manifested visibly in our likeness: the Ruler of all took on the form of a servant, while retaining His divine glory. Recognize that the only begotten took on flesh; He was born of a woman for our benefit, to lift the curse placed upon the first woman when it was said, "In sorrow you shall bring forth children," synonymous with entering into death, which they experienced. However, because the woman gave birth to Immanuel, who is Life, the curse's power was diminished and, along with death, the pain that earthly mothers suffered in childbirth came to an end. Would you like to hear another reason for this? Recall what the wise Paul articulated about Him: "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin; He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." What does it mean that the Son was sent "in the likeness of sinful flesh"? It signifies that the law of sin resides within our flesh, along with the shameful passions of natural desires. Yet, when the Word of God became incarnate, assuming our nature, His flesh was pure and sacred, so while He appeared like us, He was not tainted by our conditions. He remained completely untouched by the imperfections and inclinations of our humanity. Therefore, when you observe the Child in swaddling clothes, do not limit your contemplation to His human birth; instead, rise to perceive His divine majesty: elevate your thoughts: ascend to the heavens, and you will behold Him in His utmost grandeur, adorned with supreme glory; you will witness Him "seated on a throne high and lifted up"; you will hear the seraphim extolling Him with hymns, declaring that heaven and earth are filled with His glory. Indeed, even on earth this occurred: the glory of God illuminated the shepherds, and countless celestial beings proclaimed the glory of Christ. This echoes the ancient words of Moses, "Rejoice, O heavens, over Him, and let all the sons of God worship Him." Many holy prophets have arisen throughout the ages, yet none received the acclaim of angels, as they were human like us, true servants of God delivering His messages. But this is not the case with Christ; He is God and Lord, who appoints the holy prophets. As the Psalmist asks, "To whom among the sons of God shall we compare the Lord?" The title of sonship is bestowed by grace upon us, who are burdened and naturally enslaved; but Christ is the true Son, inherently the Son of God the Father, even in His incarnation: for as I stated, He remains who He has always been while taking on what He was not. The prophet Isaiah reinforces this truth, saying, "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel; butter and honey shall He eat; before He knows to choose evil, He shall choose good; for before the Child discerns between good and evil, He chooses good." Isn't it clear that an infant, not yet capable of understanding due to its tender age, cannot distinguish good from evil? For it knows nothing at all. Yet in our Savior Christ, this was a remarkable miracle: while still a babe, He nourished on both butter and honey. Because He was God, made flesh in an ineffable manner, He understood only good and was unmarred by the corruption characteristic of humanity. This is also a trait of the highest Essence; for that which is inherently good, firm and unchangeable, belongs to Him alone; "For there is nothing good but God alone," as said by the Savior Himself. Would you like to see further aspects of the Child's dignity? Consider that He was God by nature, who humbled Himself to be born of a woman. The prophet Isaiah speaks of Him: "And I went to the prophetess; and she conceived and bore a son; and the Lord said to me, Call his name, 'Quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil.' For before the child knows to call 'father' or 'mother,' the riches of Damascus will be taken." At the moment of Christ's birth, the dominion of the devil was shattered. In Damascus, he was revered and held many devotees; yet upon the holy Virgin's delivery, the power of his oppression was dismantled, as the Gentiles received the truth, led by the wise men from the East who followed the star. Thus, do not merely regard Him as an infant in a manger; behold Him in our poverty, who as God is rich, and in our humanity, who exceeds the angels, whom they honor. How beautiful is the hymn: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men!" For the angels and archangels, the thrones and dominions, and the seraphim, maintaining their heavenly order, dwell in peace with God, for they never deviate from His will but remain steadfast in righteousness and holiness. Yet we, unfortunately, with our desires opposing the will of our Lord, have positioned ourselves as His adversaries. But Christ has rectified this, for He is our peace; He has reconciled us with God the Father, removing the barrier of enmity—sin—and justifying us through faith, rendering us holy and blameless, and drawing to Himself those who had been distant; furthermore, He has forged two beings into one new creation, establishing peace and reconciling both in one body with the Father. It pleased God the Father to gather all things into one in Him, merging the celestial and terrestrial into one flock. Thus, Christ is for us both peace and divine favor; to Him, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be glory, honor, and power, forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus, witnessing the fall of humanity, fashioned in His image and likeness, humbled Himself and came down from the heavens to inhabit the virgin womb, so that He might restore the fallen Adam, crying: Glory to Your manifestation, O my Redeemer and God!

Their spirits rejoiced at this wondrous sight, and their inner perception was enhanced, becoming sharper and more attuned to the spiritual realm. What did the angels proclaim? It is found in the Gospel narratives that recount the events surrounding the earthly life of Jesus Christ, culminating in the shepherds' adoration at the birth of the Savior.

Upon receiving this remarkable news, without the chance to fully comprehend it, they were presented with another miraculous sign that validated the angel’s message. The night sky, previously filled with countless stars, was suddenly ablaze with an unfathomable brightness, revealing a multitude of the heavenly hosts. Over the quiet earth, a jubilant angelic chorus resonated, announcing the dawn of a new period in humanity's history: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!'.

In the heavenly realms, a solemn divine service unfolded as if conducted within the temple of Jerusalem. When the offering was placed on the altar, sacred melodies resounded in three distinct instances, accompanied by the sounds of the priests' silver trumpet, ensuring that the sacred chant echoed the form of the 'Trisagion'. The angelic hymn also mirrored the structure of the Trisagion in its three distinct proclamations, encompassing the essential realms of existence—heaven, earth, and the human spirit.

Throughout the entirety of the Old Testament, there is but one other occasion where a mortal was granted the privilege to hear the song of the heavenly hosts. This occurred when the prophet Isaiah, in his ecstatic vision, witnessed the glory of the Lord of hosts, and the seraphim surrounding Him continuously 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 thresholds trembled at their thunderous exclamations, and the prophet's heart quaked with dread. Now, the angelic anthem, which the humble shepherds received, filled their hearts with bliss, joy, and tranquility.