The answer is: Angels

Luke 2:13-14 - It is interesting to note that the angels 'said' and did not sing as we are led to believe by many of our popular hymns.

In the joy-filled account of Jesus’ birth, we read about the mind-boggling moment when angels declared peace and goodwill. It's a fascinating detail that they proclaimed this message instead of belting out a angelic choir; a subtle reminder that sometimes, messages of profound importance are delivered in the calmest of ways.

This phrase highlighting "glory to God" isn't just a one-off moment. If you look closely, it echoes through the scriptures – similar phrases pop up before major biblical events, signaling a celestial acknowledgment of divine activity. For instance, in Luke’s earlier chapters, we see this jubilations pop up again at the announcement of John's birth and has roots in verses of the Old Testament, with the Psalms often celebrating God’s glory in creation and redemption.

Interestingly, the very announcement of Jesus' birthplace, Bethlehem, links this story to a tradition going back centuries, resonating with the Messianic prophecies found in books like Isaiah.

The angels, perhaps as the first proclaimers of the “good news,” foreshadow the later ministry of Christ Himself – embodying goodwill towards humanity and emphasizing the recurring theme of God’s desire for relationship with humanity. So, we’re left childlike in wonder, imagining this cosmic moment, and pondering on what "goodwill to men" truly looks like in our everyday interactions today!