Bishop Stephen’s Piece
Angels with Dirty Faces was a seminal gangster film of the 1930’s, starring James Cagney. I have been recollecting this film as we approach the feast of St Michael and All Angels on 29th September, commonly known as Michaelmas. In our culture, angels have become popular among authors exploring various forms of spirituality. Because angels occur in the traditions of many religions, they are assumed to be spiritual beings who don’t tie us down to one faith. What appears really important is that they are spiritual not fleshly beings and that they watch over us.
I have a high view of angels. I think that for about five minutes in 1960 my grandmother said I was one. Her view was quickly revised. My principal delight in angels is that we know from Scripture that they are made for worship: they gather in myriads of forms before God’s throne and their reason for being and their only delight is to worship and adore. ‘Glory’ and ‘Hosanna’ are their favourite words as they sing God’s praise. This is our chief association with angels, because we are made for worship, too. The angels know this and they carry their worship to earth not to the great and the good but to shepherds grubby with toil and to tell them that the throne of God has come to earth and is now a manger in Bethlehem for the Messiah has born for us. There can be no allergic reaction to angels feathers, as they fill the empty spaces in our churches praying with us and longing with us that those spaces will be filled with worshippers with flesh, human disciples whom we are seeking to win for Christ.
Jesus refers to the guardian angels who watch over children. It is a happy and reassuring thought that we are all watched over. We all need to know that unconditional love which comes from God. Yet the angel is only a sign or pointer at best. The true guardianship comes not from some independent spiritual creature. The angel has no life except the pure life of God. It is his love which guards and protects us and it is to God’s protection that we commit people in our prayers. Michael the great Archangel is often depicted as a heavenly warrior, defeating Lucifer and all his great army. We are also those who then stand for what is right and good and beautiful even when it is inconvenient or dangerous to do so – not in our own strength but in the power and love of God alone.
The angel Gabriel came to Mary of Nazareth with a message straight from God, with his invitation to be his handmaid in changing the universe forever. His message was the agency of her transformation. We know that the mission to the world is Christ’s, but we are his messengers of transformation and redemption. Let us be angels with dirty faces for Christ’s sake.
