Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/83

 melody. Midway between  Jerusalem  and  Bethlehem a company  of  shepherds  guarded  the  flocks  intended for sacrificial  purposes  in  the  Temple;  suddenly in their  midst  appeared  an  angel,  dazzling  bright,  and higher hovered  hundreds  of  bright  spirits. One moment's silence  while  the  heavenly  messenger  announced his  tidings  of  great  joy,  and  then,  as  chorus follows solo,  so  the  entire  band  burst  forth  and swelled the  glad  refrain:  "  Glory  to  God  in  the highest,  and  on  earth  to  men  of  good  will  peace." Gradually it  died  away  and  the  light  faded  from  the sky, as  when  the  grand  Cathedral  functions  close  and the music  ceases  and  the  myriad  tapers  are  one  by one  extinguished. But like  the  incense  odor  in  the vacant aisles,  like  the  whispering  echoes  of  music  long since played,  comes  the  sound  of  that  hymn  played round the  shepherds  on  their  way  to  Bethlehem,  and in the  cave,  and  ever  afterwards;  and  down  the  ages reechoing from  heart  to  heart  and  from  soul  to  soul, gathering all  like  children  round  the  crib  of  Bethlehem, rolls  on  that  heavenly  chorus:  "  Glory  to God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  to  men  of  good  will peace."

Brethren, there  is  a  deep  significance  in  the  fact that the  first  announcement  of  the  Messias'  birth  was made to  the  shepherds  of  the  flock  intended  for  the Temple and  for  God,  that  through  them  the  tidings of great  joy  should  come  to  all  mankind. Very appropriately, too,  the  angel  while  delivering  his  message, pointed  to  Bethlehem,  for  Jesus  is  the  model  for us all  and  the  angelic  hymn  of  "  Glory  to  God,  good