Sing Along with the Angels!
AM Psalm 8, 148; Job 38:1-7; Hebrews 1:1-14
PM Psalm 14, 150 or 104; Daniel 12:1-3 or 2 Kings 6:8-17; Mark 13:21-27 or Revelation 5:1-14
Today is the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, but if you were living in England you’d probably just say that today is Michaelmas. In the fifth century, a basilica near Rome dedicated a chapel to St. Michael, the strongest of the archangels and defender of Christians against attacks by Satan. That dedication happened on September 30, but celebrations began on September 29, so today is the day. As early as the ninth century, the scope of Michaelmas was expanded to include “all angels.”
It’s a pretty darned important day in Britain. Michaelmas is one of the four “quarter days,” spaced three months apart—close to the solstices and equinoxes—when servants were hired, rents were due, and leases were begun. Because nightfall begins happening noticeably earlier at the end of September, and because St. Michael was thought to defend us from all perils and assaults of the dark, the location of his feast day on September 29 seemed quite appropriate. On a more quotidian note, Michaelmas marks the beginning of both legal and academic terms in British courts and universities.
But having a day when we commemorate St. Michael and all the angels raises some important questions: What exactly are angels, and what do they do? A little research reveals that all the Abrahamic religions have angels, some of whom are named and some of whom exist in various hierarchies. Typically, they act as messengers for God, intermediaries between God and humankind, guides, and protectors. For my money, the most important thing angels do is rejoice! They celebrate, they shout, they sing about the richness of God’s kingdom. Our readings for today are rife with these revels. Psalm 104 shows us God, clothed in majesty and splendor, making “the winds his angels and flames his servants.” Job 38 describes creation as a moment “when the morning stars sang together and the angels shouted for joy.” Revelation 5 brings to life “the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand,” circling the throne and saying “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
I say we join them! Turn up your volume and experience Handel’s take on Hebrews 1:6.
Written by David Jolliffe
An Episcopal chorister for the past 46 years, David sings in the St. Paul’s choir and helps to coordinate the Tippy McMichael Lecture Series.