Michaelmas 2013

ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS

29 September 2013

Readings:

Revelation 12:7-12

Matthew 18:1-14

Key Verses (using the World English Bible):

Rev. 12:7: “There was war in the sky.  Michael and his angels made war on the dragon.  The dragon and his angels made war.”

Matt. 18:14: “It is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

Note:

Some churches will transfer this feast day to Monday, in order to maintain the Sunday readings.  For reference, the readings for the 4^th Sunday after Creation are: Joshua 5:13-6:7 and Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.

Reflection

My close friends know I’m not a fan of the fantasy genre.  You won't find Lord of the Rings in my DVD collection, Harry Potter on my bookshelf, “Skyrim” on my computer, or “Dungeons & Dragons” on my coffee table.  I know fiction is all about suspending disbelief, but I can’t really do that while seeing dragons and elves running around, with that barely-real look that only CGI can give them.  I personally prefer the type of fiction that attempts to root itself in the real world.

Oh good, you’re still with me!

Today’s reading from Revelation could’ve easily leapt out of the fantasy genre.  There’s a cosmic war in heaven (war in heaven, can you believe it?), angels, dragons, an old serpent—the basic ingredients for the epic “ultimate good vs. evil conflict”.  Earlier in this chapter from Revelation, a great red dragon had tried to devour the male child about to be born of a “woman clothed with the sun”.  This child “is to rule all the nations” and “was caught up to God, and to his throne”, a peculiar and strangely condensed version of Jesus’ birth.  No wonder we don’t read this on Christmas.  And to top it off, the Archangel Michael and his heavenly host then wage war against this dragon and cast him down to earth.

Readings like these are, of course, the basis for themes of warfare that are prevalent in certain kinds of Christianity.  The church on earth is traditionally called “The Church Militant”.  Unlike “The Church Triumphant”, comprised of the communion of saints, the Church Militant is depicted as wrestling against both earthly and spiritual forces of wickedness that constantly threaten to lead it to damnation (cf. Ephesians 6).  Many of us may have heard phrases like “prayer warrior”, “the Word is the sword”, "slain in the Spirit", “the armor of God”, “the shield of faith”, or hymns like “Onward, Christian soldiers”.

As a Christian, I can’t deny that evil exists.  All you have to do is turn to the news on television.  I mean, barely two weeks ago, we experienced even more mass shootings in the U.S., and for what?  But if you live your life in the constant fear of evil’s next manifestation, you will not live the life that God wants you to live.  There has to be a balance between the paranoia that comes from watching CNN 24 hours a day, and the carefree ignorance that comes from pretending that everything is okay.

That balance is faith.  The more you focus on evil, the more you run the risk of feeding it more energy.  Choose to feed that energy to God—to goodness, to kindness, to love, to your neighbor.  In moments of trial, cling to these things as if your own life depended on it, because living your life does.  And as cliché as the phrase is, ask yourself “What would Jesus do?”  For we know that he would not let fear or evil defeat him—no, he would heal, save, and love.  He would assure us that his Father doesn’t want any one of his little ones to perish.

The overarching promise of God’s own (s)word is that good really does triumph over evil.  Whatever war is to be waged in heaven or on earth, let it be.  Let those who started it, finish it.  Our job is to “rejoice always” and “walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself for us.”

Prayer of the Day

Everlasting God,

you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order

the ministries of angels and mortals.

Mercifully grant that,

as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven,

so by your appointment

they may help and defend us here on earth;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Hymn: “You holy angels bright”

(Words: Richard Baxter, 17^th cent., and John Hampden Gurney, 19^th cent., adapted by Joseph A. Soltero, 2013

Tune: ‘Darwall’s 148^th’, melody and bass by John Darwall, 18^th cent.; harmony by William Henry Monk, 19^th cent.; descant by Sydney Hugo Nicholson, 20^th cent.)

You holy angels bright,

Who wait at God’s right hand,

Or through the realms of light

Fly at your Lord’s command,

Assist our song,

For else the theme

Too high would seem

For mortal tongue.

You blessèd souls at rest,

Who ran this earthly race

And now, from sin released,

Behold the Savior’s face,

His praises sound,

As in his sight

With sweet delight

You now abound.

You saints who toil below,

Adore your heavenly King,

And onward as you go,

Your joyful anthems sing.

Take what he gives.

Through good or ill,

O praise him still,

Who ever lives.

My soul, bear now your part,

Triumph in God above,

And with a well-tuned heart,

Come sing the songs of love!

Let all your days

Till life shall end,

Whate’er he send,

Be filled with praise.