Meet the Challenge That the Angel Sets Before You
I have an angel on the top of my Christmas tree again this year. It is the same one as last year. It is a beautiful gold-trimmed, white-laced female with expansive wings and a trumpet. It fits all my expectations of what the angels of Christmas look like. But is that the kind of apparition that appeared to Zechariah, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds?
Judging by Luke’s account of the event, I suspect I need to get a new angel for my tree.
The angel that appeared to Zechariah and Mary identified himself as the Archangel Gabriel. He is a mighty creature--notice I said “he”--right below God himself in the heavenly ranking. He must be an ominous and awesome being, far more compelling than the one on top of my tree. Enough so that the first word out of his mouth is generally “Do not be afraid.”
The first words of the angels that appeared to Joseph and the shepherds also were “Do not be afraid.” I believe that these are good words for us to remember every Christmas. We look at the roller coaster of the stock market, we hear about the layoffs at Boeing and meet friends and family members fighting cancer or other life-threatening illnesses and it is frightening.
But I believe that the appearance of an angel can be even more frightening. I believe in angels. I believe that God has sent many into my life and will send many more. Whenever I have been faced with them, I have been scared. However, the angels I have seen did not identify themselves as heavenly beings nor were they recognizable as angels.
Like Joseph they have been in my dreams. Like Zechariah I have witnessed them in my prayers. For angels are messengers from God and he sends them to us all the time. How often have you received a message only to turn a deaf ear to that angel? How often has God tried to direct you and you have been gripped with the fear of failure? God’s messengers and angels bring us words like “Go back to school and get your high school diploma, bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree,” or “Pick up the phone and call your parents, children, siblings, friend boss, or employee,” or “Start that business” or “Hang in there and finish, don’t quit.” These can be the most frightening words we hear, and therefore the first words that we need the angels to say to us are “Do not be afraid.”
God’s angels always give us a challenge, something we need to do. For Zechariah, the charge was, “You will name your son John.” For Mary the call was, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and you will give birth to a son.” For Joseph, his instructions were, “Take Mary as your wife and name your son Jesus.” For the shepherds the opportunity was, “Find a baby lying in a manger in Bethlehem.” Do you know what the angels are telling you to do? Do you know your destiny? Have you received your purpose?
If you want direction in your life, desire the touch of an angel or hope for spiritual renewal, I challenge you this Christmas to go to your church, synagogue or mosque. You may be like Zechariah and hear God’s angel in a holy place. Go to a quiet place in the hills. Sit and be still. Read your Bible. Like the shepherds, you may hear your angels in the fields. Give yourself time to listen to God. Get plenty of rest. It is too easy to become overwhelmed in this season of peace. Like Joseph, you may hear the angel in your dreams.
Regardless of where or when you receive your message from God, remember that you have nothing to fear. “Do not be afraid!” That doesn’t mean it will not be scary. Fear is the inability to do the will of God. Feel scared but act bold. In spite of the feelings you can be courageous by doing the right thing. Go back to school, seek reconciliation, follow your dreams, reach for the stars, and always remember the words of the Archangel Gabriel: “Nothing is impossible with God.”
Can anyone tell me where I can find a really bold angel for the top of my tree?
The Rev. Robert A. Schuller, son of Crystal Cathedral pastor Robert H. Schuller, is pastor of Rancho Capistrano Community Church.
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On Faith is a forum for Orange County clergy and others to offer their views on religious topics of general interest. Submissions, which will be published at the discretion of The Times and are subject to editing, should be delivered to Orange County religion page editor Jack Robinson at 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Submissions also may be faxed to (714) 966-7711 or e-mailed to jack.robinson@latimes.com.