Angels from the realms of glory

I don’t know what you picture when you read of or sing about angels in the Christmas narrative. Angels announce that God is with us, the heart of the matter and they promise that God will be with us in the midst of life. Jane Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury’s wife, wrote a wonderful book on angels some years ago. She suggests that angels come to the aid of the people when they are tempted to give up believing in God. She says for example when Israel was captive in a foreign land, and there was a pressure to conform and to deny God, the angels are there as a sign that God does still exist even in a foreign land, that God was everywhere and could be worshipped under all circumstances.

Then she says this “In the Christmas story the angels are particularly noticeable around the time of Jesus’ birth. God is doing something so unlikely in choosing to be born as a human baby, that the people directly involved need all the help they can get to see that is indeed what is going on.” Angels offer a different way and a reassurance when things are a bit confusing and difficult – hence “do not be afraid.” They give us a sign of a new age coming.

Perhaps in our prayers in these few days we should thank God for those angels who come to you to show us we are never alone.

I love carol singing, but I haven’t enjoyed the weather this year. On Monday, some of us went out in the pitch black in Pett. It tipped down, the carol sheets disintegrated, people kept saying “watch out for that puddle” – I said, “too late, I’m in the puddle!” On Wednesday, we went out round the streets in Hastings, again the water went down our necks, we got drenched, the alcohol in the mulled wine we were given by some kind people en route was diluted by rain going in the cup. This morning, in Rye, there we were with the Salvation Army Band as Churches Together, under cover of a shop front but still the driving wind and rain got us. At least it was dry inside ASDA with the choir from my Calvert church this afternoon! I’ve been interested in people’s reactions to carol singing going on. Some indifference, but largely a joy inside them, a reminder of something, a reminder I hope that God is here. I loved it when a little boy came up to me as I stood in the middle of Rye High Street today and shouted “Hello Ian!” His mother said, “who's that?” He said, “That’s the man who comes into our school and tells us stories about Jesus.” We go into the world wherever we can to remind people of the divine in our midst – do not be afraid.      

Pondering tomorrow's Gospel (Matthew 1: 18 - 25) I found this commentary from my favourite Old Testament scholar, Walter Bruggemann helpful:

"Matthew gives us an angel's message in a dream that is beyond our control or expectation. He tells us that it is God's Spirit who makes all things new through this baby, and he names the baby twice. The baby is named Save, and Jesus saves from all that kills and is flat and sad. He names the baby God is with us, and we are not alone.

Notice that this story does not ask us to do anything. But I believe it invites us to be dazzled. It invites us to ponder that, while our world feels unsaveable, here is the baby named Save. Our world and our lives often feel abandoned, and here is the baby named God with us. So we are to be ready to have our lives and our world contradicted by this gift from God. We may rest our lives upon the new promise from the angel and we may be safe and we may be whole and made generous because Christmas is coming soon."

Perhaps we all need to hush our noise a bit and hear the angels sing. Who knows what listening to them might lead to. I have given out so much in these weeks, the thing I am looking forward to I think most is a chance to listen for me - that will come late on Christmas Eve as I find a midnight communion far away from Methodist Churches and take in - that will be lovely.