good I do not find in myself, and if you delight in the law of God according to
SERMON 193
ON CHRISTMAS DAY
Date: 4101
Glory to God, and on earth peace
1. When the gospel was read, we heard the voices of angels announcing to the shepherds that the Lord Jesus Christ was bom of the virgin: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will (Lk 2:14). Festive voices, congratulating not just one woman whose womb had been delivered of offspring, but the whole human race, for whom the virgin had borne the savior. It was right, you see, and altogether Fitting, that the one who carried in her womb the Lord of heaven and earth, and after giving birth to him remained virginally intact, should be hailed in her child-bearing, not by a pack of women with solemn human rites,2 but by angels with glorious divine praises. Let us too then say, and say with all the jubilation we can muster—because we aren't announc¬ ing his birth to shepherds watching their flocks, but celebrating his birthday with his sheep; let us too say, I repeat, with faithful hearts and loyal voices, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.
Let us take as close and shrewd a look as we can at these divine words, these praises of God, this exultant joy of the angels, and meditate on it in faith and hope and charity. For in accordance with what we believe and hope and desire, we too will be glory to God in the highest, when with the spiritual body3 rising again we are snatched up to meet Christ in the clouds;4 provided that meanwhile, as long as we are on earth, we pursue peace with good will.5 But all who would have life and love to see good days, let them curb their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit; let them turn aside from evil and do good (Ps 34:12-14); and in this way be people of good will. And let them seek peace and pursue it (Ps 34:14), because on earth peace to people of good will.
Christ's mercy gets in ahead of us every single time
2. But if you say, man,6 Look, to will is available to me, but to perform the good I do not find in myself, and if you delight in the law of God according to the inner self, but see another law in your members fighting back against the