The four acts of advent are adoration, activism, community-building and – our theme this week – expansion.  Today we look at the message of the Angels from Luke 2:

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Mary’s Magnificat does not envision the inclusion of the world in the Messianic kingdom; Zechariah’s Benedictus gets us closer when he says, “to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:79). But the Angels do envision peace on earth.

Christmas, if it is faithful to the original vision, is to be an event of including those who have not previously been included. It is an event that expands God’s people to others. Christmas expands peace – to all.