St. Michael, defend us... - Rector's Rambling for October 1, 2017

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Michael and all Angels, transferred from September 29.  It is an important Feast Day to help us to understand God’s created order, as well as the great help that St. Michael and the Holy Angels are to us.

Although most images of angels are of the warm, cuddly cherub type, in fact the image above captures the idea of who St. Michael the Archangel is from the story from the Book of The Revelation of St. John the Divine.

The word “angel” actually means “messenger”.  We generally associate this with St. Gabriel, who announced to Mary that she would be the Mother of our Lord (Luke 1:26–38).  In many other places in scripture the angels are messengers from God to man to warn them and guide them.

These heavenly beings are also known for their work in heaven by worshipping God day and night (Revelation 7:11) and joining us in worship (from the Holy Communion Service “therefore with angels, and archangels, and all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name…”).

And of course, we love the idea of having a guardian angel as well. (Matthew 18:10)

But let us not forget that angels, like St. Michael, are warriors who fight for us against the assault of Satan and his legions who would seek to distract us and draw us away from the love of God!  Jesus Christ has won for us the victory over sin and death, but the devil is still causing trouble and our angels are keeping them in check.  Let us give thanks, and ask their intercession and help in the spiritual battle!