Angels: Agents of God’s Word and Deed

One of the most joyous times within church congregations is, notably, that of various renditions of the Christmas pageant. Most versions include scenes of angels, either speaking with Mary or Joseph about the Son they will soon have, or of the angelic announcement of the good news of Christ’s birth to the shepherds in the field. At these moments, the faces of our children enlighten, as if angelic beings, themselves, bearing witness to God’s message of salvation for us, within our own times.

But, need we stop here? Biblical accounts of angels are interspersed throughout scriptural texts from the end of the story of the Garden of Eden to the ending of all that opposes God’s good plan for creation and humankind, in the book of Revelation. A quick Google search reveals that “angels,” in singular or plural form, are mentioned within the Bible 273 times within 35 books, and this count excludes other references to “angels” such as “holy ones” and “angelic hosts.”

With today, September 29, marking the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, we have yet another opportunity to kindle the angelic light of God’s messengers within those with whom we engage, but especially among those in whom we foster spiritual formation.

Today, we can both recall and retell other stories of God’s work within scriptural texts in which angelic beings are both message bearers of God’s Word and also conductors, catalysts, or change agents who propel God’s work among us and within all of creation. One spiritual practice may be to inquisitively engage in the readings assigned for this Feast Day by asking plausible questions such as

What role is played by angel(s) in this reading?
Is the angel(s) bringing a message from God in this context or performing an actual task?
What do I envision the angel(s) looking like?
Why is the angel(s) performing this role?

After opportunities to inquisitively engage with several scriptural references of angelic beings, ask which is my/your favorite? Or, can I, or you, see angels among us today, as God’s agent(s) in word and deed? With those who are age appropriate, we can explore three of the nine echelons of angelic hosts as ordered within the first stanza of the very familiar hymn, Ye watchers and ye holy ones. 

Among all angelic references in the Bible, two stand apart as my favorite. Both references reveal God’s goodwill and guardianship for the marginalized and the most fragile. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says, “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:10, NRSVue). The writer of Hebrews tells us, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that, some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2, NRSVue).

I find it to be very profound that, even as Seraphim may cover their faces before God, as implied within the text of Isaiah 6:2, angels who keep watch over children continually behold God’s face. They are able to look God in the eyes as they report upon both the bad befalling them as well as the good acts conducted upon their behalf. Personally, I believe Jesus’ words may extend to “little ones” not only of young age, but inclusive of those with disabilities, the elderly, those suffering with dementia, the homeless, the stranger, and all who are most fragile among us. These two references to angels reveal the heart of God, that, within the great scheme of God’s overall work, at God’s heart is the singular person who is a stranger, a child, one who is marginalized, and yes, a “little one.”

This is all the more reason to celebrate angels—not only during the Christmas season, but also on the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, and indeed throughout the whole year. In our human frailty, we stumble and confess our sins in thought, word, and deed. Yet we give thanks to God for the messages angels bring, for the ways they act among us, and for their role as agents carrying forward God’s good plan—leading all creation toward its fulfillment and perfection in Christ Jesus.

[Image Credit: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons]