Thoughts for the Day

And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming, "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah, for the accuser of our comrades has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not cling to life even in the face of death.

Rejoice then, you heavens and those who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you with great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The Feast of Michael and All Angels is also known as Michaelmas and falls on the 29th September each year. The trouble with the mention of angels is that we tend to remember examples on television, or on cards, and think of sweet cartoon images. But angels in the Bible, are very different. They are a fearsome choir of heavenly beings arrayed for battle around the Lord of Light. They sing angelic songs with their mouths - "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty" - but with two-edged swords in their hands. The word "angel" means messenger, and we know how the Archangel Gabriel took God's message to Mary, but the Archangel Michael is a different being altogether. His role is as a warrior and leader of the angelic army.

The festival goes back to the early 3rd century CE and there are many traditions and customs celebrated on this day, particularly concerning feasting. Although it's a fun festival (Satan was supposed to have landed in a blackberry bush, so some people finish off the last of the blackberries!), it has a serious side to it. In today's reading we see a second army of angels, followers of Satan, originally an archangel who tried to oppose God. But Satan's time on earth is short because he has already been defeated by the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Satan's reign will come to an end when God's Kingdom is completed.

However, in the meantime we can sense the the spiritual battle that goes on in our world and around us day by day. But we are not alone, Michael and his angels constantly serve God by actively doing His will, encouraging believers, and fighting spiritual battles on our behalf. Following the Christian way is difficult and we can find ourselves frequently tempted to go our own way. Our bible teaches us that the Father sends His angels to protect us.

Collect for Michaelmas

Everlasting God,
You have ordained and constituted the ministries
of angels and mortals in a wonderful order:
grant that as Your holy angels
always serve You in heaven,
so, at Your command,
they may help and defend us on earth;
through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with You,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.