Luke’s voice softened as he recited the words of the heavenly host, the song of glory that resounded across the fields of Bethlehem:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.”
Theophilos sat in contemplative silence for a moment. In his mind, he envisioned the majesty of the Temple of Artemis: the 127 towering columns standing 60 feet in the air, the offerings of silver and gold statuettes to the goddess, and the carefully orchestrated rituals proclaiming her glory and declaring her the savior of Ephesos.
Divine favor, as Theophilos had always known it, was bestowed on the powerful, the wealthy, and those who demonstrated their piety with extravagant offerings. Yet, Luke’s story painted a very different picture.
Disrupted by Glory
“Tell me again,” Theophilos said, leaning forward. “To whom did this heavenly host appear?”
“Shepherds,” Luke replied simply. “Men working in the fields, watching over their flocks.”
Theophilos frowned. “Shepherds? That makes no sense. Surely the gods would reveal their glory to priests, rulers, or those who dwell in sacred places.”
“In the kingdom of God,” Luke said, “glory is revealed in the ordinary, and favor rests on the lowly. These shepherds, unnoticed by society, were the first to hear of the Savior’s birth.”
Theophilos shook his head, struggling to reconcile this idea with his worldview. He thought to himself, “Savior? The goddess Artemis is our savior. She demands offerings from the city’s elite.”
The annual procession of the Kouretes, priests, the president and boule, the “most excellent” citizens of Ephesos in celebration of her birth ensured the city of her protection. But here was a God who bypassed the powerful and chose shepherds—men who were little more than laborers. This God told the lowly and humble that a Savior is born who is Christ the Lord.
Theophilos began to realized that his entire life focused on a divine glory tied to spectacle: the grand processions in honor of Artemis, the intricate ceremonies led by the Kouretes, the glittering temple treasures. But the hymn of the heavenly host suggested a different kind of glory—a glory that disrupted expectations and illuminated the ordinary.
“Luke,” Theophilos said thoughtfully, “if what you say is true, then this God you speak of is unlike any other. He does not seek offerings or power. Instead, He chooses the humble and brings His glory to them. It is… unsettling.”
“It is unsettling,” Luke agreed. “But it is also hope. If God’s glory can shine on shepherds, then it can shine on anyone—even you, Theophilos.”
Peace in the Ordinary
Luke continued, his voice steady but impassioned. “The host sang of glory to God in the highest heaven, but they also declared peace on earth—peace that comes not to the rulers who wage war or the rich who hoard wealth, but to those on whom God’s favor rests. And God’s favor rests not on merit but on His mercy.”
Theophilos’s thoughts turned to the people of Ephesos—the merchants, artisans, and slaves who lived in the shadow of the Artemision. They worked tirelessly, yet they were invisible to the goddess they served. Their offerings were meager, their names unknown to the priests. What would it mean for them to know a God whose favor was not earned but given freely?
He found himself captivated by the paradox as he pulled a coin from his purse. The image was clear; Nero with a star declaring his glory and divine favor. Thoughts began to flurry through his mind. Not only did the emperor believe himself to be a god, but he believed he brought peace to the Roman Empire, the so-called pax Romana.
Theophilos asked, “And this peace, what kind of peace does your God offer?”
Luke’s eyes brightened. “It is the peace of reconciliation—the restoration of what was broken between humanity and God. It is the peace of knowing you are seen, loved, and redeemed by a God who steps into your world.”
A God Who Dwells Among the Ordinary
As Theophilos sat with these thoughts, the hymn began to take on new meaning. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace.” Theophilos had always thought of glory as something distant, untouchable, and confined to the grandeur of the gods. But the song of the heavenly host revealed a glory that came near—a glory that brought peace to the forgotten corners of the world.
“This hymn,” Theophilos said finally, “is not just a song. It is a proclamation. It declares that God’s glory is not confined to heaven but reaches down to the most ordinary of places. It’s as if your God is saying, ‘The whole earth is My temple.’”
Luke nodded. “Exactly. And His peace is not for a select few. It is for all who will receive it.”
“Luke!” Theophilos said with excitement, “if this is true then this is good news for all people!”
Theophilos’s Challenge
The hymn of the heavenly multitude left Theophilos both awed and unsettled. It disrupted his assumptions about divine favor, glory, and peace challenging him to see the world—and his own life—through a different lens. For the first time, he considered the possibility that glory could be found not in the marble columns of the Artemision or in the peace of the Roman Empire or even in the good news declared by emperors, but in the fields of the ordinary.
Could this God, who revealed His glory to shepherds, also reveal Himself to Theophilos? Could His peace extend even to a person who had spent his life seeking favor through rituals and offerings?
Theophilos left his conversation with Luke with a growing realization: If the heavenly host’s hymn was true, then the glory of God could shine anywhere—even in the humble streets of Ephesos, and even in his own heart. It is indeed good news.
A Challenge for Us
The angelic hymn disrupts our assumptions about glory, peace, and favor just as it did for Theophilos. In a world that exalts power and wealth, it declares that God’s glory is revealed in the ordinary and that His peace is offered to the humble. Will you, like Theophilos, allow yourself to be disrupted by this hymn? Will you seek the glory of God not in grand gestures but in His presence among the ordinary? The invitation is before you: step into His peace for it is good news for all people.