St. Michael and all the Angels

September 30, A.D. 2007


Unseen But Constantly Present Traveling Companions


The word “angel” is one we use quite frequently in our conversations.

For example: we might compliment the kindness of someone by calling them an angel and we often refer to cute and well behaved children as sweet little angels.

Then, we often seen and hear the you-know-what angels who ride around on their motorcycles.

A major city in this state is named after the angels.

So, on this celebration of St. Michael and All Angels: do we believe in angels?

What do they look like? What do they do?

There are 447 references in the Bible to angels, so they must exist.

We read stories about them doing all sorts of incredible things.

For example, the prophet Isaiah sees the angels, the cherubim and seraphim flying around the throne of God singing, “Holy, Holy, Holy.

That must have been quite a sight, but, do angels simply reside on the pages of scripture, or is there more here than meets the eye?

Then, to complicate matters, we read in the book of Hebrews: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware.”

Dr. Martin Luther once said: “The angels are very close to us and protect us and other creatures of God at his command.

To be able to protect us the have long arms, and so they can easily chase Satan away when he tries to harm us.

They stand before the face of the Father, next to the Son, but without effort they come to our aid.

The devil, too, is very near to us.

Every moment they are plotting against our life and welfare, but the angels prevent them from having us.”

Those words of Dr. Luther, written nearly 500 years ago are certainly comforting in our present world of terror, fear, and violence.

So, my brothers and sisters, could it be that we are surrounded by unseen but constantly present traveling companions as we walk the pilgrimage of life?

The word “angel” in both the Hebrew and Greek Biblical languages simply means “messenger.”

An angel, then, is a messenger that is sent from eternity into time, with a message from God to humanity.

Angels are also, according to the book of Hebrews: “winds and flames of fire, in the divine service, sent to serve and minister to those who are to inherit salvation.”

We might conclude, then, that angels are intermediaries between the celestial and terrestrial worlds.

Sometimes they appear in human form, as they did to Joshua, sometimes they appear as winged creatures.

Sometimes they have something to say to us, from God, sometimes they give us a hand when we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place.

When

St. Peter wound up in prison, chained between two solders, an angel appeared, the chains fell off of his wrists, and Peter found himself standing outside of the prison walls.

When Jesus was in so much agony in the Garden of Gethsemane that he was literally sweating like drops of blood falling to the ground, an angel came and strengthened him.

When the prophet Elijah was at the end of his rope, an angle came and cooking him some bread in order that he could make the long and difficult journey to Mt. Sinai.

Of course, then, there was Gabriel whose name means “one who stands in the presence of God”, who appeared to Mary.

Then, in today’s lessons we hear of Michael the archangel, whose name means, “who is like God.”

He is the warrior angel depicted on the front of our bulletin, who fights evil on our behalf and who will one day having the privilege and joy of once and for all defeating the devil.

That all is well and good, but what about angels and us?

These words aren’t printed in the bulletin, so you need to listen carefully to the chanted preface that begins “It is indeed right and salutary.”

The preface concludes by saying: “And so, with the church on earth and the hosts of heave we praise your name and join their unending hymn.”

Could it be, then, that the angels join with us as we sing “Holy, Holy, Holy.”?

Well, maybe, we might think, but, after all, this is the modern world, and haven’t we come too far to believe in things that we can’t really see or hear?

While I was in seminary, every time the name Rudolph Bultmann was mentioned, we, as a class, would ceremoniously give the Bronx cheer.

Bultmann had arrogantly written: “One cannot use electric lights, the radio, and the modern instruments of medicine in chemistry in cases of illness and still believe in the world of spirits and miracles of the New Testament.”

If that were true, you and I would have no hope whatsoever.

But, consider this: A Lutheran pastor friend of mine was at the end of his rope.

He is a fine pastor, a sensitive and compassionate person.

His associate pastor had tried to manipulate and control things, and caused a crisis in the ministry of the church.

This cause my friend to wind up at the bottom of the heap of depression and wondering whether or not it was worth staying in the ministry…much easier to toss off the collar and walk away.

Some friends suggested that he go to the mountain town of Asheville, North Carolina, to get his mind off of his troubles.

So, he did, and he was standing outside of a shop with religious icons in the window.

He thought they were absolutely beautiful, and he sighed in admiration: “these icons are just beautiful.”

He hadn’t noticed that there was someone who had come up beside him who replied: Oh, do you like icons?”

“Oh yes,” Gary replied. I like them very much.

“I sure wish I could paint them.”

“Well, maybe you’ll find a teach one of these days that can help you learn who to do that.”

They chatted a little longer, a parted ways.

Two weeks later, my friend received an invitation in the mail from a place in Pennsylvania that is nationally known as a place to learn to write icons.

My friend thought this was quite strange, so he called the place, and asked how they got his name.

“We have no earthly idea” was the reply.

“I just know that when it came time to mail out invitations for the class your name was on my list, but I have no idea where it came from.”

This Lutheran pastor is one of the finest iconographers in the country, and was commissioned by the ELCA to write icons for Pope Benedict XVI and the Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople.

The icons have been written and delivered.

Strange story? Perhaps? But there is more.

This same pastor returned to his pulpit after the trip to Asheville and gave a sermon.

Afterward, one of his parishioners came up to him and said; “Hey, pastor. Who was that guy standing behind you in the pulpit?”

Strange, perhaps.

But, when you consider that we are, indeed surrounded by unseen but constantly present traveling companions, it is simply part of the life we live as the children of God.

And, quite honestly, I need to know that there are angels around us to help us along the way.

Quite honestly, I don’t think we could get along without them.

In the words of an ancient hymn:

“Let us who mystically represent the cherubim and who sing the thrice holy hymn to the life giving Trinity now lay aside all earthly care that we my receive the king of all who comes invisibly up borne by the angelic hosts, alleluia!