The Flame of Christmas 4 – Angels a Flame of Joy
Angels, they have been the subject of many a thought and guess during the time we have been on the earth. I have heard people say that our loved ones that die become angels that watch over us in our lives. I also have read about an angel being cast out of heaven and a third of the angels in heaven followed him. Some angels sing, some go to war and some bring messages. Not really sure where you fall in the angel conversation but I wanted to talk about one of them for a minute.
In the book of Luke an angel is sent by God to give a message to some people. The first was Zechariah, the high priest of Israel, and he was told that he would have a son even though he was very old. Zechariah doubted so the angel told him he would be silent until the baby was born. The angel’s name was Gabriel. It seems strange that we are told the name of this angel in the book of Daniel and Luke. Makes me wonder if all the angels have names or only three of them named Gabriel, Michael & Lucifer. Anyway, that doesn’t really help with what we are thinking about today.
So in heaven do you think Gabriel hangs out with God and waits to deliver messages for Him? If that was what was going on this time then it would be crazy to have been there. You have to remember that God has been silent for 400 years. He has not sent a prophet, king or angel to speak to the nation or people of Israel. 400 years is a stinking long time to go to temple and offer sacrifices without a sound coming from heaven. Gabriel there by the throne waiting for an assignment and each day he punches the time clock and goes and waits and waits. Not sure if angels get tired but Gabriel had to be near his limit it would seem. Of course it just might be me pushing my thoughts into his life. He was just waiting to just say something to somebody.
Then it happens. God looks over and gives Gabriel a message for Zechariah that will change not only Zechariah and Elisabeth’s life but the entire nation’s life. Zechariah is told about his son John who will be the announcer of the Messiah. He will be the one to bring the Good News of who Jesus will become and what he will do for the world. That is the first of the messages God has for Gabriel to deliver. If you thought telling an old guy he is going to have to add a nursery on the nursing home then wait until you hear what he is going to tell Mary.
He shows up one night and starts the conversation like it always has to start with angels and people. He tells her not to be afraid. I’m guessing that an angel in your room would be a scary proposition for sure. He then tells her that she will have a son who will save the world from its sins and be the long awaited Messiah. It would be great news except she is a virgin. How can she have a baby if she has never been with anyone? He gives her the news and she has to decide what is next for her. She says to God and the plan is put in motion. Only one hiccup stands in the way. Mary is engaged to Joseph and they are to be married soon. Now Gabriel has another message to deliver and this might just get a little more awkward than the other two messages.
Now Gabriel has to go to Joseph and tell him that his fiancé is pregnant and the father is God. Will Joseph join the plan of God or will he decide to leave Mary at the altar? It was one weird assignment that Gabriel received from God. What would it have been like to speak for God? To say what He has imagined and created? It would be a task that would push even an angel I would guess. He has to share God’s plan with people who have never heard of God speaking at all. He has been silent for 400 years and now He speaks and it will be to an old High Priest, a virgin and a groom who is going to be shocked. I wonder what Gabriel was thinking when God sent him.
I really do have a habit of trying to figure out too much stuff. It just isn’t enough to hear the stories for me at times. I wonder what the characters in these stories were thinking and feeling when all of this is going on around them. What would it have been like for Gabriel? Do angels have emotions? Do they fear or ever second guess what is going on?
I’m not sure about the second guessing but I do know that Jesus once said in Luke 15:10 that “the angels rejoice when one sinner repents.” So the angels can feel joy. I wonder if that filled Gabriel’s thoughts that night. Did he realize that he was announcing the beginning of God’s salvation of people? He was sort of getting the word out about who the Messiah would be and what great thing He would do for all mankind. I bet the joy of the news outweighed any thoughts of being afraid or nervous delivering such amazing and puzzling news to a couple of people who would raise the Savior.
It is the same for us at times. It is hard to express our faith with our words at times. But, that is how God has chosen to spread His story of love in our times. It is for us to share our Good News with our friends and people around us. Instead of allowing fear to close our mouths we need to remember the joy that is shared when someone finds God as their own savior. If we can let the joy that will come in their lives push us to share our lives with them we can start a party in heaven.