‘Tis the season of Angels … that we have heard on high.
They come bearing good news and on this, the final week of Advent, we await the fulfillment of their good news of great joy.
Today’s readings remind us that the work of Angels go beyond the visit to Mary, which we often ponder deeply this time of year. They have been here before. And, I believe, they continue to be with us today.
Have you heard your Angel?
Have you been an Angel?
Today there is the story of Samson in our first reading, the strong man with long hair who performed great feats as the last of the judges of the ancient Israelites. The news of his birth was announced by an Angel to his mother, who had been barren.
Then, in today’s Gospel, we get the story of the birth of John the Baptist, foretold to Zechariah that he and his wife, Elizabeth would bear a son.
Of course, we read that Zechariah had a little bit of doubt in his heart, and therefore paid the price of not being able to speak until the child was born.
Thankfully, when he did speak, he provided us with our oft-used morning prayer, known as the Canticle of Zechariah … a wonderful prayer that can be applied in so many ways to those who pray it.
Ah, but back to the Angels in today’s readings. Clearly, these were miraculous births in both cases.
But really, what birth is not a miracle?
In most of the modern world, we have advanced so far in medical science, we tend to think that having a baby is a matter of nothing more than proper planning, nutrition and a medical care. But even with all that, there are no guarantees as many couples can attest.
Every child is his or her own miracle.
In less than a week, we will celebrate another miraculous birth – the big one, you might say.
The Angels are in full swing this week, knocking on our doors, sending us messages … imploring us to “fear not” for on this day a savior is born.
We hear their voices in the Christmas carols that play on the radio.
We hear them in the bells that ring out from our churches each hour.
We hear them in the laughter of our children whose excitement levels are already peaking in anticipation of the big day ahead.
And yet, there are many who walk among us who have difficulty hearing the prophetic voices of the Angels. Some are lost in the grief of being alone during the holidays. Others have lost the spirit of the season – and the hope for miracles – because their prayers have seemingly gone unanswered.
(No prayer goes unanswered … we just do not always get the answer we desire).
Like those poor shepherds tending sheep in the fields, they have lost hope. More than anyone, they need to hear the voices of Angels. The voices of hope.
But if that’s not possible, then perhaps we can help. We can reach out, open our arms, our homes, our wallets and do what we can so that those “poor shepherds” know they need not give up on hope.
Sometimes, it only takes a word or a kind gesture. Other times it takes much more.
But don’t fear and don’t despair. God will place them in your path as He sees fit. He will give you the words to speak and the things to do. All we need to do is be open to the call to evangelize the world and let everyone know of the joy that is about to be celebrated once again this week.
And we sing …
Angels we have heard on high … sweetly singing o’er the plains!
