"Know Hope"

So,

What does an angel look like?

That has been a great discussion in the Wednesday evening bible study and possible other small groups as well. Like the girl dressed as what we think an angel looks like on the bulletin cover?

Or is an angel a terrifying apparition, based on Ezekiel’s description in his first chapter, “and in that center I saw what looked like four living creatures. They were somewhat like humans, 6 except that each one had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, but their feet looked like the hoofs of calves and sparkled like bronze. 8 Under each of their wings, these creatures had a human hand.” Ok!

We know from scripture that angels are not physical beings, but sometimes in scripture they appear to people who it seems are frightening, but not terrifing. So, what does that mean.

And is that why we sometime entertain angels unaware, as in Hebrews 13:2? Because as spirits we don’t see them as they work? And when we do, perhaps we simply don’t necessarily recognize them as angels.

Could it be that some angels are coming to us dressed in such a normal presence that it doesn’t occur to us they are angels until later, when we remember quizzically, “wait a minute, was that an angel”?

Lots of questions, not so many answers!

Oh, and this one - when an angel does come to visit, what do you do?

Our questions are so many and there are so few answers!

And then when Mary is visited by an angel and is afraid, she simply goes along with what the angels tells her is about to happen. 

Now note, the scripture really doesn’t say why she was afraid. 

I assume because the angel’s appearance was frightening, revealing to Mary in some fashion that she was in the presence of God, the whole shekinah glory thing. It would have to be overwhelming.

I mean if an angel showed up and told me I was going to get pregnant, I’d be overwhelmed and have lots of pretty serious questions, a lot more serious than Mary’s. 

To her credit she did want to know how she could become pregnant, since she wasn’t married and presumably therefore not sexually active.

And so, the angel explains. This will be God’s doing. God has plans and they include you!

I don’t know if you have ever thought about what God is doing in the world. And I don’t know if it has occurred to you, that God’s plans always include you.

You are not incidental in what God is doing. 

For you God has a plan and a purpose. You are an essential worker in the Kingdom of God, and so you and I need to be ready for when God calls upon us to make things happen.
Just like Mary!

You understand there is no birth story without Mary. 

Sure, God could have called on any faithful follower to be the house for the incarnation of Jesus. 

But Mary was available, willing, and faithful.

And that was all God needed. 

In fact, it is all God ever needs and desires

A disciple, available, willing and faithful, ready to do the work of the kingdom.

And so, it begins!

God has decided to enter our world, and do it humbly. Not by rending the curtains that separate the physical and spiritual worlds, but by inhabiting a human body.

A baby is coming, and slowly but surely God will reveal himself through that child.

And…

Through us.

Know hope!

Amen.