“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.” Lk 2:14
The commercial world has implanted into our tradition the notion that Christmas is a time of good cheer, merrymaking, and goodwill towards others. For many who only have a vague idea about the biblical God and the gospel, it may seem that this worldly Christmas atmosphere is very appropriate for the occasion, reflecting the niceness of a God who is keen to bless humankind with a blind eye towards sinfulness and injustice. The rendering of the above verse in the well-known King James version: “…on earth peace, goodwill toward men” reinforces this erroneous notion.
The words of the angels, “Glory to God in the highest heaven” does not refer to the glitziness of the pretty Christmas lighting and the lavishly decorated Christmas trees that adorn the city, shops and homes, not even the nativity scene and carol singing that depict the romantic story of baby Jesus in a manger. They point towards the manifestation of God’s magnificent love for the world, which drove Him to give His only begotten Son to come in absolute humility as a helpless baby in a manger to commence His journey as the suffering servant for us. The angels’ proclamation “and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests” promises that those who find favour in the Holy God shall have peace, even in this broken world. No, it is not a promise of superficial and short-term good cheer for everyone regardless of their attitude towards God, but a profound peace in the hearts of those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a peace that transcends adversity, even in hostility and wars of this world, because they have been reconciled to the Holy God, who will never leave them or forsake them.
May the Lord open our eyes to truly behold the glory of God this Christmas, and take hold of the promised peace, by receiving Christ as Lord of our lives.
「在至高之處，榮耀歸與神！在地上，平安臨到祂所喜悅的人！」路2:14
商業世界已經潛移默化地把一個觀念植入了我們的傳統中，即聖誕節是要愉快，盡情歡樂並向他人表達善意的時節。對於許多對聖經中的上帝和福音只有模糊概念的人來說，這種世俗的聖誕節氣氛似乎非常適切這個場合，認為是反映出上帝的善良美好，熱衷於祝福人類，而對罪惡和不公義願意視而不見。上述的經節在著名的英王欽定本中的翻譯為(意譯)：“…地上平安，人人喜悅”強化了這個錯誤的觀念。
眾天使所頌讚的「在至高之處，榮耀歸與神」的榮耀並不是指向那些裝飾著城市、商店及家裡的五光十色之聖誕燈飾，或裝飾得華麗的聖誕樹，甚至不是描繪嬰兒耶穌誕生在馬槽裡的浪漫故事之場景和聖誕歌。它是指神向世人所施那偉大的愛之彰顯，賜下祂的獨生愛子，全然的屈尊降卑，如無助的嬰兒降生在馬槽裡，藉此開始作為我們受苦的僕人之旅程。天使的宣告「在地上，平安臨到祂所喜悅的人」，承諾那些在聖潔之神面前蒙恩的人將得著平安，即使在這個破碎的世界上也是如此。不，這並不是說上帝要為每個人，無論他們對神的態度如何，都提供表面和短暫的歡樂，而是應許那些相信主耶穌基督的人在內心深處有出人意外的平安。這是一種超越逆境的平安，即使在這個世界的敵對和戰亂中也要常存，因為他們已經與聖潔的神和好，並深知祂必永不丟下他們，也不會離棄他們。
願主在這聖誕節開啟我們信心的眼睛，讓我們真正看見神的榮耀，並藉著接受基督為我們生命的主，把握著祂所應許賜下的平安。
