The last and final installment in our 30 day journey are angels. Very often we think of angels as cute cuddly cherubs floating on cotton ball white clouds strumming their harps and playing their flutes. Yet when we read scripture we see an altogether different version of angels:
In Genesis Jacob is depicted as wrestling with an angel all night long
In Luke's gospel an angel comes bearing good news that Mary will bear a son and her first reaction is fear
In Matthew's gospel an angel of the Lord comes to Joseph telling him that Mary will have a son and his first reaction is fear and the notion to divorce her
When the women come to Jesus' tomb in order to anoint his dead body they meet an angel in the garden and their first reaction is fear.
Why so much fear with angels?
Well, I'd be scared to if an angel appeared to me speaking the Word of God. After all it's much easier to have God at an arm's length, and quite another to have his Word come face to face!!!
Yet angels come and go in scripture.
The word "angel" literally means "messenger" and the angels are messengers of God bringing news.
So our Hollywood and Hallmark versions of angels are not very biblical. Yes they might be cute and cuddly and warm and fuzzy but they are not the angels that we see in either the Old or New Testament.
Angels are sent to bring the good news of the gospel which is the message of repentance. The message that we have new life in Christ and that we have the opportunity of eternal life with God for ever and ever.
This is wonderful and exciting news!!
Today we thank God for his messengers.
I hope everyone continues to read Scripture on their own. I also hope that you are active in your parishes in order to help build up the Body of Christ wherever you find yourself.
God bless all of you.
Thanks for spending the past 30 days with me.
I plan on taking a few days off with blogging and will be return posting on July 12.
