Reflection: Longing Angels

You’ve likely rubbed shoulders with angels.

They’re all in when it comes to God’s intervention in his treasured, violated creation. I picture them on tiptoe to participate, though we’re told they’re not really in-the-know. They’d have wondered at something big afoot when angel-envoys dropped in on Mary and Joseph with news of a God-son pregnancy; another angel already having announced a miracle birth to ‘prepare his way’.

They’d have wondered, aghast, at the birth of God-incarnate. They’d have jumped at the privilege of spreading ‘tidings of great joy’: mingling with a flock of sheep/shepherds in a sleepy, starry somewhere; singing God’s glory in a mighty flash-mob.

We’re told that a number of them, years later, took a desert mission, ministering to spent and battle-worn Jesus. And then one lone emissary was sent on a garden mission to strengthen the lone, agonising Son. Supernatural ministers with supernatural comfort. Con-forte/strength ministered in Christ’s most vulnerable state.

Jesus knew and spoke of angels at the ready (“Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled …?” see Matthew 26:53-54) but rescue was not their mission. It was his.

When Jesus wheezed his last breath, (‘Mission accomplished!’), did the rest of creation hold its breath?

When, three days later, angels rolled the tomb stone away, announcing the risen Christ, did the good news blow the disciples away?

Did anyone comprehend the drama of redemption?

Apparently not the angels.

The sinless creature cannot savour firsthand the sweetness of salvation.*

By heavenly orders, theirs was the message to announce, but not experience.

Ours is the gospel to experience.

Do you realise how fortunate you are?

Angels would have given anything to be in on this! **

Come with the disciples on a hill outside Jerusalem for the angels’ final flourish in this incarnation drama. ‘And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”’… [and his mighty angels with him]. (See Acts 1:10-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:7)

Prayer:

Sweet salvation!

Refresh me again today with the wonder of what angels long to fathom.

“The Word assumed a body and took it for his own;
born of a chosen virgin, as Man his Word was known.
He died the death of sinners that we in him should die;
the name this world has trampled in heaven is lifted high.

Such grace, such love for sinners, such mercy through such pain!
It calls us to repentance and love for him again.” (hymn by Christopher Idle)

*Jen Wilkins, “None Like Him: 10 Ways God Is Different from Us (and Why That’s a Good Thing)”

**See 1 Peter 1:11-12 in The Message paraphrase.