"Angels and Dreamers (Advent 4)"
Pastor Susan Langhauser
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Matthew 1:18-25
You’ve heard me say it again and again: “What do angels ALWAYS say? Do not be afraid!” Today we light the Angel Candle on our Advent wreath, and realize that we are poised on the verge of the angels’ announcement over Bethlehem that, “Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!” But that announcement, those angels, come from the story as it is told by Luke, the evangelist, and today, as we read the story of the birth of Jesus from Matthew’s point of view, we are reminded that there have been angel appearances all through the Bible, stories told by many voices, in many times and places. And yet, on this day of angels, we remember that the word angelon (angelon) in its original intent does not mean pretty ladies with wings or cute little cherubs sitting on clouds. We make note of the fact that there were angels bringing messages from God, or standing in for God long before the heavenly hosts filled the skies over Bethlehem.
Angel literally means “messenger” or, God’s presence in some form: it could be a burning bush - a still small voice - a mighty wind that parts the sea - a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night - a heavenly warrior in the desert - tongues of fire falling on disciples – dreams that are clear, and those that are not - strangers seeking hospitality – a new star rising in the east - or visions of a new life, a new world. In whatever form God has chosen to communicate with us, angel appearances remind us that God has been “with us,” among us since Time began.
From the very beginning of God’s story, God has been fully present in all three persons of the Trinity. In fact, both our Biblical Testaments witness to, “In the beginning…” The first book of the Old Testament, Genesis, starts out in Chapter One, verse one: “In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void…the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the deep.” God the Creator was there. God the Spirit was there. Adding Jesus in, to complete the triune presence, is testified to in the New Testament Gospel of John, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…and the Word became flesh and dwelled among us.” That “word” is Jesus, as present at Creation as the Spirit and the Creator were, and have been throughout Time.
God has always been about Creation, bringing forth something from nothing, something new, or, something reworked out of material that already exists. A thing repaired, when it is broken, redeemed when it is lost, reconciled when it needs forgiveness. This is the work that comes from God through angelic presence: that God Comes to Us – to restore and renew when we are no longer capable to do so.
This is a time for families to gather. And each time we draw together in someone’s home, around a table to break bread, we hear and tell again the stories of our lives. We laugh at the antics of aunts and uncles long passed, or childhood pranks and secrets shared. We speak of our own who display military valor even now, or long ago. We feel pride about our heritage and our ancestry as the older generations pass along the stories that forge our identity year after year after year. We welcome new voices and listen patiently to our little ones ask questions we have answered a thousand times before. And even though the angelic presences might not be quite as visible in our stories as they are in the stories of our religious ancestors, there are angels all over the Bible and all over our lives, saying over and over again, “Do Not Be Afraid…
Remember Great Grandfather Abram, who was afraid of striking out on a new adventure to a new place for a new job? It was at God’s direction that these opportunities came, and Abraham heard the angel say, “Do not be afraid, Abram…for I am your shield and your great reward.”
How about 3rd Cousin Hagar, a victim of circumstance and society, and even her employers. She was cast out and thrust into the desert for doing exactly what her mistress, Sarah, had asked of her - she bore a son for Abraham. But once Sarah conceived on her own, Hagar and her son, Ishmael were sent away, where the angels said, “Do not be afraid, Hagar…for God has heard the boy crying.”
Great Uncle Jacob, whose family of 12 strapping boys and a handful of daughters grew and flourished until a time of great famine, and then found that one of his younger sons who had been lost early in his life, had ascended into power in a foreign land. Jacob was afraid to journey with his sons to meet the great Pharoah’s second in command, but an angel said, “Do not be afraid, Jacob …I will make of you a great nation in Egypt.”
Likewise, Uncle Moses after leading his entire community out of their slavery, and was poised to channel a new escape route through the Red Sea became afraid, and yet heard the voice of God, “Do not be afraid…stand firm and you will see the Lord’s deliverance.”
The stories go on and on around the table: Cousin Joshua – at the edge of the Promised Land, “Do not be afraid…the Lord your God will fight for you.” Brother Samuel – accepting God’s claim on his life, “Do not be afraid…but serve God with all your heart.” And good old Daniel – about to have a close encounter with some lions. “Do not be afraid, Daniel…I have come in response to your words.”
God Comes to Us – establishing trust, and sending us what we might need to calm our fears, and to give us courage to do the work God has in mind for us to do. Yes, the New Testament tells us of how the presence and promise of God continues. “Do not be afraid…” rings in the ears of those whom God choose to do some of the most important work that needed doing. Remember Mary and her family who lived way up north of here in a little village? Surely you recall the story that began when an angel appeared to her uncle, Zechariah. He was pretty confused about what the angel told him, but relaxed when the angel said, “Do not be afraid, your prayers have been heard, Elizabeth will bear a son in her old age.”
Even Mary herself was startled until the angel soothed her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Her fiancé Joseph had plenty of reason to run away, but the angel instructed him, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. The child in her womb is of the Holy Spirit.”
And finally, shepherds in the field were awakened from their midnight napping and heard the angels proclaim, “Do not be afraid! We bring good news of great joy to all the people. Unto you is born this day, a Savior!” God Comes to Us – giving us meaning in our work, in our relationships, in our very lives. We are God’s people, formed by God’s story, and shaped by God’s love.
And the story of the King begins to unfold again. Through Jesus’ ministry of healing and teaching, freeing and loving, sacrificing and dying. Hailed on Palm Sunday, “…Your King is coming, humbly, riding on a donkey…” through his Last Supper with his closest friends, “…Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.” Until finally we all understand why this Babe lived among us. On Easter morning, those angels return yet again, to proclaim the message even greater than Jesus’ birth, “Do not be afraid. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. But he is not here. He is risen!”
God Comes to Us – and keeps Creating in history, and in us – reminding us of his presence over and over again. Proclaiming through John’s revelation, “…I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.”
God Comes to You – and keeps Creating in you: and you do not have to be afraid, for Christ is born again and again and again, IN YOU. For renewal and strength - for reconciliation and courage - for trust and for meaning - for love and for light. Do not be afraid, for you are the messengers, the bearers of his Light into the darkened World. Amen.