Dear Rose Park,
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singly o’re the plains, and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strain. Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Above is the first verse and refrain from “Angels We Have Heard on High.” It’s one of the most famous songs during the Christmas season. Casting Crowns, Josh Groban, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and even Sarah McLachlan have their own versions of the beloved hymn (my personal favorite is Andrea Bocelli). Regardless of the version, it is a beautiful hymn that perfectly encapsulates the glory of Christmas while also inviting us to imagine the wonder and excitement of Christ’s birth.
While I was in high school, I was a tenor in Holland High School’s Vocal Dimensions. Our teacher, Mr. Kerry Daab, instructed us to pronounce ‘excelsis’ more like ‘egg shells’ in order to soften the ‘s’ from our sixteen-person group. This certainly helped our vocal sound, but ‘egg shells’ and ‘excelsis’ are not the same thing. When we sing “Gloria in excelsis Deo!” we are saying: Glory to God in the Highest! Glory to God in the heavens! Glory to God in the highest degree possible! Glory, glory, glory to God!
“Angels We Have Heard on High” is an invitation for us all to join with the choir of angels in giving the highest praise and glory to God. But it isn’t just angels. The first verse tells us that the angels are swinging sweetly over the plains but the mountains are replying with joyous strain. The mountains are singing glory to God. The very rocks, hills, and peaks are raising high the name of Jesus in celebration of His arrival. But if the mountains are singing praise to Christ, then surely all of creation is praising Christ. It is the personification of Psalm 148:
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!
Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord; for he commanded and they were created.
He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!
Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and women alike, old and young together!
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!
Imagine joining this choir; a choir filled with wild animals, creeping things, young and old, men and women, sea monsters, and even the weather praising the Lord and singing His name. The entire season of Advent is inviting us to join this choir and give glory to God in the highest. The Christ-child is coming and I can’t wait to join the choir. I hope to see your face and hear your voice.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark