Angels from the realms of glory
STEPHEN IS described in Acts (Chapter 6 verse 15) as having a face that was like the face of an angel. What did Stephen look like, do you think? Have you ever seen an angel?
The word angel derives from the Greek ‘angelos’, meaning messenger. Jesus taught that angels are always present with children to watch out for them (Matthew Chapter 18 verse 10). ‘I tell you that they have angels in heaven who are always with my Father in heaven’.
Throughout the Bible, angels have been both guardians and messengers. I used to imagine my guardian angel sitting on my shoulder, always on the lookout to keep me safe. An angel closed the lions’ mouths and saved Daniel. The angel Gabriel brought the all-important message to Mary to tell her she would be mother of the Christ Child. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to marry Mary and, again, to tell him to flee to Egypt. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Between the two visits of an angel to Joseph, monumental events had taken place.
Joseph and a very pregnant Mary had travelled 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem to obey the decree of Emperor Augustus for everyone to be registered in their own towns. Mary is always depicted riding a donkey but there is no mention of a donkey in the Bible. Our imaginations prefer that she hadn’t had to walk all that way! On reaching Bethlehem, there were crowds of people, all anxious to find a place to stay. But for Mary and Joseph there was nowhere but a stable. A couple of years ago I rethought the stable; not so much a ‘lowly’ stable but an oasis of quiet, not accommodation overcrowded with humanity, but a sacred space in which to give birth to God’s own son.
Jesus’ birth was the start of something colossal, life changing, world changing. What an impact he has had on our lives and still has on the lives of billions of people.
After the effort of the journey and giving birth, how Mary must have been filled with elation cradling her tiny son. Imagine this elation shared by God who just had to tell someone! And what better way to announce a really significant birth than to shout it from the heavens, to tell the very people who would benefit from the birth. Firstly, with the messenger, ‘Do not be afraid’ and then a spectacular multitude of the heavenly host. What better way to express the birth of God’s son! ‘Angels from the realms of glory’ proclaiming Messiah’s birth. The blessings of Christmas to you all.
by Revd Dr Catherine Radcliffe –Assistant Curate St Peter’s Caversham
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