Michaelmas - September 29, 2023

Today’s Readings….

St. Michael & All Angels:
AM Psalm 8, 148; Job 38:1-7; Hebrews 1:1-14
PM Psalm 34, 150 or 104; Daniel 12:1-3

Today’s Reflection

Today is the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels. This day is also called "Michaelmas." The word "angel" or angelos in Greek means messenger. Throughout Hebrew and Christian scripture angels play a prominent role in pivotal moments. A few of those many angelic encounters include: an unnamed messenger interrupting Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22:11), Michael and Gabriel's roles in the Book of Daniel (8:16, 9:21, 12:1), Gabriel's message to Mary of her chosen status (Luke 1:28) as well as angelic assurance to Joseph in a dream that it was God's will he wed Mary. In the Book of Revelation an epic battle results in the Archangel Michael and his angels defeating Satan (12:7-12). Thus, the title "Archangel," meaning Michael is the "chief of the angels."

Each Eucharist, we sing or say, "Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sent this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name..."(BCP, 362). What a glorious image of the merging of heaven and earth at the Holy Table.

Today, our tradition honors the many ways that God sends messengers to us in "human or non-human forms." (Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2006, 398) My hope is that we find comfort in knowing that we are not alone; that God is commanding God's angels concerning us to guard us in all our ways (Psalm 91:11). Perhaps we might even be especially inspired this day to pay attention to God's messengers in our midst.

I invite you to close by praying the Collect for this 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.

Full discloser--I went down a rabbit hole with this one and had a blast. If you want to learn more about angels in Jewish antiquity, here a great article; If you want to read about a tradition that imagines angels preceding each one of us announcing "Make Way for the Image of God" check this out; or if you're curious about how "Michaelmas" is celebrated in Scotland, and finally, Forward Movement has a wonderful reflection on this day as well.

Grace and Peace,

Mary Bea+