Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
With Christmas and Advent in recent memory, it is a good opportunity to recall angels. These spiritual beings that God made would bring messages from their Creator down to people like you and me. You’ve probably seen them around in nativity sets recently, often depicted as men or women in white flowing robes with wings and a halo around their head.
They’re an important part of the Christmas story. It is an angel who bring messages to Joseph, telling him to marry Mary and protect their family by fleeing to Egypt. The angel Gabriel brings Mary the news that she would bear God’s son. Gabriel also brought the news to Zechariah, the priest, that he and Elizabeth would bear a son in their old age who would be filled with the Holy Spirit and that he would be named John. Later known as John the Baptist. And again, it is angels who direct the shepherds in the field to Jesus their Lord.
You get the idea. Angels tell people news that God has for them. But apart from Christmas, we don’t seem to hear too much about them. They are in other stories throughout Scripture, but they seem to appear few and far between compared to Christmas time. So, what are to make of them?
One thing that is especially clear from Christmas is that angels rejoice in and are glad for the birth of Jesus. The angels in heaven want the salvation of the human race and they even help make it happen. And not just at Christmas!
-They will gather God’s chosen people to Him on the Last Day (Matthew 24:31).
-They help promote the work of the church and protect its servants. Often saving people in prison, such as Daniel and Peter, so the Gospel would continue to go out (Daniel 6:22; Acts 5:18-20).
-They guard and protect God’s people (2 Kings 6:15-17; Psalm 34:7).
These things are true even to this day. God still sends you His angels. They still battle the spiritual forces of the devil on your behalf. Mostly out of sight, but hopefully not out of mind. Because they are real and interact with our world.
As nativities get taken down and packed away, consider the angels. Remember them as we sing the Sanctus before Communion that we are singing with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven. Even while you pray, ask that God sends his holy angels to be with you.
As life moves forward into 2022, we can always use a helping hand and God’s angels will surely lend you one, whether you realize it or not!
Have a blessed New Year!
Vicar Lewis