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Published: Dec. 7, 2022, 9 a.m.

It\u2019s hard to go anywhere this time of the year without hearing Christmas music. They really help set the mood for the holidays, which I love. The melodies of many of the traditional Christmas carols are fixed in our minds because we\u2019ve heard them for years and years. But often the words are not. Who can remember the 3rd verse of \u201cSilent Night,\u201d for example?

The lyrics of the really good Christmas carols have a relationship component to them worth considering this time of year. I\u2019m going to talk about one of these carols in today\u2019s episode.

But before we get into all this, here\u2019s a word from my favorite Christmas Carol, our executive producer, Carol Steward.

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If you find yourself wanting more from your relationships, you\u2019ve come to the right place. Here you\u2019ll discover practical principles you can use to experience the life-giving relationships you were made for.

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Angels We Have Heard on High

I have been hearing \u201cAngels We Have Heard on High\u201d as a Christmas Carol ever since I was a kid. I bet the same is true for you, too. It is an easily recognizable tune, mainly because of its chorus, \u201cGloria In Excelsis Deo\u201d which is Latin for Glory to God in the Highest.

Because the melody is so familiar and catchy, the lyrics, except for the first few lines, are something I\u2019ve never thought much about. Until just recently. This \u201cAngels We Have Heard on High\u201d Christmas Carol has an interesting history, going back to the second century, and an even more interesting meaning for celebrating the Christmas season here in 2022.

I\u2019ll get into all this in just a moment, but first I\u2019ll play the melody and recite the lyrics. Try to focus on the words and their meaning.

[Play the melody of \u201cAngels We Have Heard on High\u201d]

Lyrics to \u201cAngels We Have Heard on High\u201d

[Verse 1]
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains

[Chorus]
Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Gloria In Excelsis Deo

[Verse 2]
Shepherds why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

[Chorus]
Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Gloria In Excelsis Deo

[Verse 3]
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King

[Chorus]
Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Gloria In Excelsis Deo

[Verse 4]
See within in a manger laid
Jesus Lord of heav'n and earth
Mary, Joseph lend your aid
With us sing our Savior's birth

The back story to this Christmas Carol

\u201cAngels We Have Heard On High,\u201d is a traditional French Christmas carol, previously known as \u201cThe Angels in Our Countryside.\u201d It tells the story of angels announcing to local shepherds the good news of the birth of Jesus.

Though the source of the song is unknown, it is believed to have originated in 18th-century France. The song was first translated into English in 1860 by James Chadwick, a Roman Catholic bishop.

Just as the origin of the words to this French song is unknown, so also is the melody. Since it was common for lyrics to be written for existing tunes, it is possible that the melody is even older than the words.

Gloria in Excelsis Deo

The refrain in this Christmas carol, \u201cGloria in Excelsis Deo,\u201d (Latin for "Glory to God in the Highest\u201d) has an interesting background. The phrase is first found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verse 14, when a vast host of angels suddenly appear to the shepherds, praising God.

Centuries ago in the hills of southern France, tradition has it that shepherds had a Christmas Eve custom of calling to one another, each from their own hillside, singing \u201cGloria in Excelsis Deo.\u201d Verses 1 and 2 in Angels We Have Heard on High\u201d reference this when they speak of the \u201cmountains\u201d (i.e., the shepherds on the mountains) replying to the angels in joyous heavenly song.

The phrase \u201cGloria in Excelsis Deo.\u201d played an important part in worship at church masses dating back to 130 A.D. During this time period, one of the early Roman Catholic popes, Pope Telesphorus, issued a decree that on Christmas Day all churches should have special evening services.

He also ordered that at these masses, after the reading of certain Scripture or the conclusion of specific prayers, the congregation should always sing the words \u201cGloria in Excelsis Deo.\u201d Historical church documents reveal that monks carried this executive order throughout the land and that by the third century it was a practice used by most churches at Christmas services.

Sources

https://genius.com/Christmas-songs-angels-we-have-heard-on-high-lyrics
https://www.celebratingholidays.com/?page_id=10563
https://faithgateway.com/blogs/christian-books/angels-we-have-heard-on-high

So, what does \u201cAngels We Have Heard of High\u201d mean for you?

This Christmas carol stands in sharp contrast to all the things we add to the original meaning of Christmas. The presents, the activities, the gathering of families together. All these are fine, but they have nothing to do with Jesus is the reason for the season.

\u201cAngels We Have Heard on High\u201d is largely a song to celebrate the invitation God extends to all of us, you and me included, to come and see who Jesus is.
It\u2019s to celebrate the generous love of God to give us this greatest gift ever.

It\u2019s also an encouragement to accept this wonderful invitation. As the angels said to the shepherds, just come and see. Come and see.

And that\u2019s what \u201cAngels We Have Heard on High\u201d means for us this Christmas season in 2022 and every year.

Here\u2019s the main takeaway I hope you remember from today\u2019s episode

A Christmas carol like \u201cAngels We Have Heard on High\u201d invites you and me into a relationship with Jesus, just as it did for the shepherds in the song. It\u2019s an invitation for us to either accept or reject.

Relationship question of the month for December

What joyful memory of Christmas do you have? What is a tradition or event stands out for you when you think about this holiday?

Just go to JohnCertalic.com/question to record your answer using your phone or computer. With your answer, please include your name and where you\u2019re from. It\u2019s that simple. If you\u2019d rather give a written answer, just enter it in the Leave a Comment box at the bottom of the show notes.

I\u2019ll need your response by 5 pm Central time on December 12, 2022. Again, head over to JohnCertalic.com/question and leave a message.

I\u2019ll pick several responses to air on our episode before Christmas.

Closing

In closing, I encourage you can take a few minutes to look past the distractions that seep into the Christmas season. I hope you take to reflect on its real meaning so that you can give glory to God in the highest as the shepherds on those French hillsides did so many years ago.

I so often close each episode by encouraging you to spread a little relational sunshine around the people you meet and to spark some joy for them. But for this month, I want to encourage you to be on the lookout for the sunshine God is shining into your life. Expect true Christmas joy to show up on your relational doorstep to surprise you by filling your heart.

And I\u2019ll end with one last round of \u201cAngels We Have Heard on High.\u201d

Merry Christmas and God bless us everyone! Other episodes or resources related to today\u2019s show

133: Relationships - The Back Story to the Christmas Story
021: The Most Important Relationship of All

Last week\u2019s episode

186: Thankful for Life After Death
https://www.johncertalic.com/podcast/thankful-for-life-after-death/

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