Have All the Angels Gone Home?

One of the people’s common needs is to contact/be contacted by some Force that is beyond our understanding. Myths ancient and modern abound with figures from “the beyond” that unexpectedly enter our lives. Many of the Judeo-Christian tradition call upon angels to represent God. We can read in Genesis 18 how angels appeared to Abraham, and later (in chapter 28) of Jacob’s Ladder and his divine wrestling. Isaiah speaks of angels in the high court of heaven (6:1-8). In later times, the cathedral in Bath, England, features angels–messengers of God–ascending and descending on sculptured ladders. Fr. Andrew Greeley has an excellent book, “Angel Fire”, which I recommend heartily. And you shepherds, recently near Bethlehem–I guess you also saw some angels!

The Old Covenant reading for Christmas (the day after all heaven broke loose) is a picture-story from Third ISAIAH, 52:7-10. Sentinels on the walls of Jerusalem have seen a messenger speeding toward the city with good news: the battle has been won! “In plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion…. All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” The announced peace is not only the cessation of war, but involves a condition where justice & forgiveness & renewal take place. Even though the surrounding “city” be in ruins, STILL the messenger-angels make this improbable statement. And you, dear reader, get on the walls and watch!

The author of the Letter to the HEBREWS, 1:1-4, expects that as wonderful as angels are, yet the Lord Jesus is more excellent than they, as he is the “exact imprint of God’s very being”. The angels are created by God to be wind and fire, a description of Pentecost and associated with the Holy Spirit. The same writer will later speak of entertaining angels unaware, a preview of Clarence in “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Can you name some phase of your life when you realized in retrospect that an angel–a messenger of God–has touched and re-valued you?

The Prologue to the Gospel of JOHN, vv 1-18, is so full of Creation theology that it could be read EVERY worship event. It is very fitting and appropriate to lift this up on this First Day of Christmas, as we dig ourselves out from under the wrapping paper. Jesus has been born to us as a source of Light–and heaven knows we need it! Where do you need some Christmas Light as you wait for the angels to announce again that God continues to shed glory?

During Advent, I’ve been using a daily devotional by Donna Schaper, called “Stir Up Your Power”. In an attitude of prayer she says, “We pray, as Advent deepens, for the return of angels. In other times past, we have felt barren, without issue, inconsequential, preparing for a joy that seemed never to come. This season wake us up. Make our preparations bear fruit. Make sure we don’t miss the angels You have already sent…” Merry Christmas to all!!

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Every Tuesday we’re met by scripture texts which are to be read in worship on the upcoming weekend–at horacebrownking.com