Recently, a friend had an MRI. Going in, he was very concerned because a back problem made moving painful. Holding still for 10 minutes while lying down was even worse. When the crucial moment came, my friend said he knew his guardian angel was nearby because he suddenly felt completely at peace.
Anyone who knows anything about Christmas knows the angels were very active before Jesus was born. Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, and Mary both were given face to face messages from angels about their soon to be born children in Luke 1. Joseph received messages in dreams from angels in Matthew 1 and 2. The shepherds came face to face with an angel telling them to go to Bethlehem before a flock of angels appeared in Luke 2.
Except for Mary, the angelic appearances occurred in darkness. The Bible has many other accounts of people seeing angels. The implication is angels are all around us if we bother to look.
When you go to a Christmas pageant, angels will be dressed in white with a big set of wings. Luke 2:15 indicates the angel left the shepherds and went to heaven. The logical assumption is they flew away but no account ever describes the wings on the angels.
So how do angels get wings? Yes, I know the old adage they get them when a bell rings. Heavenly creatures are said to have six wings in Revelation 4:8 but the wings we bestow on angels probably comes from Revelation 12:14. The woman - not an angel - was given eagle wings so she could fly to safety.
Regardless of their appearance, angels are messengers sent from the Father. Many believe they have an angel watching over them. Taking this a step further, I believe an angel watches over my car and another watches over my house even when I am not there.
I once encountered a man who did not believe in demons. The lesson read in church that day was one where Jesus cast out a demon. The man claimed it did not happen and Jesus simply used an undocumented technique to solve the problem.
When I asked him about angels, he quickly conceded they existed. Confused, I asked how one could exist but not the other? He abruptly ended the conversation and walked away.
Do you believe in angels?
Grace and peace in the power of the Holy Spirit.
(J. Wesley McComb is a published author and a member of Christ Episcopal Church, 1534 7th St, Slidell, 643-4531, www.christchurchslidell.com/publications )
© by The Slidell Independent newspaper; originally published on December 3, 2009. Used by permission of publisher and author.