"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God saying: glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men"

(Luke 2:13-14)

Three praises, at the same level as the three holies (the “Trisagion”), because the mystery of Divinity has been manifested universally.

Here, theologically speaking, is a declaration (epiphany) and a divine appearance (Theophany) together. As for the declaration, it is from a private angel, “an angel of the Lord”, carrying an announcement from God to the shepherds, and as for the appearance, it is the appearance of God himself, which Saint Luke has expressed saying, "the Glory of God shone around them." With this we can understand the differences between the "angel" and the "multitude of the heavenly host", so the angel is sent from the Lord, and the multitude of the heavenly host are servants of the throne, who surround the Lord, and appear at the moment of His appearance.

So here there is an announcement in heaven and a manifestation on earth.

Therefore, we can notice that the praise started first with "Glory to God", which is the “Doxa Patri” (Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) as a scream of praise announcing the presence of the Majesty in heaven, upon the child! And as for "on earth Peace", it is for the birth of Lord of peace, in the moment when His body touched our land of misery to fill our land with irremovable and eternal peace. And as for "Good will toward men", that is because the source of divine joy and happiness has taken flesh of our flesh and was incarnated, and He will never leave us forever.

So, Joy to us that we have gotten a boy, and got a Son who is from heaven, and not from our land, and His Father sent Him to us to carry us unto him! Is not this incredible?

So angels ought to sing in the highest, and the whole earth had to echo their words forever because the Lord has made for a us a great thing, and the sun of peace and joy has shed its light on the sorrows of mankind.

What western people do in Christmas Eve, singing and dancing with great joy through hymns and music in every street, square, lane, and corner, with every body quitting his serenity, is their annual response to the heavenly cheer.

In the past, Isaiah also cheered with prophecy, seven centuries before Christmas, singing,

"But there won't be any more sadness for those who were suffering. In the past the Lord brought shame on the land of Zebulun . He also brought shame on the land of Naphtali . But in days to come he will honor Galilee , where people from other nations live. He will honor the land along the Mediterranean Sea . And he will honor the territory east of the Jordan River . 2 The people who are now living in darkness will see a great light. They are now living in a very dark land. But a light will shine on them. 3 Lord, you will make our nation larger. You will increase their joy. They will show you how glad they are. They will be as glad as people are at harvest time. They will be as glad as soldiers are when they share the things they've taken after a battle. 4 You set Israel free from Midian long ago. In the same way, you will break the heavy yoke that weighs Israel down. You will break the wooden beams that are on their shoulders. You will break the rods of those who strike them down. 5 Every fighting man's boot that is used in battle will be burned up. So will every piece of clothes that is covered with blood. All of them will be thrown into the fire. 6 A child will be born to us. A son will be given to us. He will rule over us. And he will be called Wonderful Adviser and Mighty God. He will also be called Father Who Lives Forever and Prince Who Brings Peace. 7 The authority of his rule will continue to grow. The peace he brings will never end. He will rule on David's throne and over his kingdom. He will make the kingdom strong and secure. His rule will be based on what is fair and right. It will last forever. The Lord's great love will make sure that happens. He rules over all." (Isaiah 9:1-7)

Blessed are you Isaiah, who had seen the light in the deep darkness, and have seen peace, joy, righteousness, and kingdom of heaven in the lap of Bethlehem's Child, so even if the angels have praised with their best, also mankind has a prophet who praised more than the angles have done.

From: "Gospel of Saint Luke: Study, Interpreting and Explaining" by father Matta el-Maskeen pages: 132,133

First edition, 1998, Saint Makarios Monastrey-press Sheheet wilderness, Wadi el Natroun .

Translated By Mr. Beshoy William and reviewd by Mr. Ramzy Labib .