Entertaining Angels

ONLINE REFLECTION, ST. PAUL’S, FOLEY

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

 

Tuesday, yesterday, we observed one of the major feast days in the church year – St. Michael’s and All Angels, also known as Michaelmas.

 

It serves as our salute to the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.  They are remembered for their role in salvation history, and most specifically, in scripture.  Keep in mind that it was Michael the Archangel whose armies defeated the dragon in the Book of Revelation’s battle of heaven.

 

The angel Gabriel appeared to the prophet Daniel, to explain his mysterious visions.  Likewise, Gabriel makes appearances in the Gospel according to Luke – appearing to Zechariah, foretelling the coming of John the Baptist, and to Mary, telling her of the coming of Jesus.  The cave which tradition holds was the site of that visitation – the Annunciation – is revered today in Nazareth.

 

The feast day we observe can be traced to the fifth century, when a St. Michael’s Church was dedicated in Rome.  The most significant early Anglican observance was on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.  Celtic festivals are still observed there.

 

The feast day, of course, comes close to the Autumnal equinox and is viewed by many as the beginning of fall.  Schools and colleges have marked it as the day of student matriculation.  In fact, that was the day on which we “signed the book” to officially enter seminary.

 

We may think that as a modern culture we are beyond such things as angels.  We should not be so arrogant.  There is much that we do not know; volumes that we do not understand.

 

Keep in mind that the author of the Letter to the Hebrews wrote these words:

 

^13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 

 

For sure, angels are a mystery.  But we never know when we are present with one.

 

Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.