A leading magazine encourages readers to ask Archangel Michael to surround them with his ‘blue cloak of protection’ or invite Archangel Raguel to help over the festive season as he is associated with ‘healing arguments, clearing up misunderstandings and bringing peace and harmony to tense situations’.
And I’m thinking hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Angels do feature at times in the Bible.
Famously the angel Gabriel visits Mary and tells her she will bear a son and is to call him Jesus. ‘He will be great,’ the angel continues, ‘and will be called the Son of the Most High.’ (Luke 1 v 31-32)
An angel also visits Joseph with the instruction, ‘you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ (Matthew 1 v 21)
And then there’s the bit where a whole bunch of angels spring out on a few unsuspecting shepherds, sending them to Bethlehem to see……..well, Jesus.
Anyone notice a pattern developing here?
Like, do any of these angels want attention for themselves?
Apparently not, they’re just anxious to convey God’s message pointing ever so clearly to His incarnate Son, the Leader and Saviour so urgently needed by the world.
So why would we preoccupy ourselves with secondary messengers when the main Message of hope and redemption personified is newborn before us in the manger?
Which is almost exactly what the writer says in Hebrews chapter 1. Angels can’t sort out our sin and guilt or grant us eternal life and peace. But God has given us His Son, Who can, if we dispense with sinful alternatives and trust humbly in Him.
We human beings are terrible for settling for less than we could, trying to woo angels while the infinitely more wonderful God the Son is seeking our attention that He might save and bless us profoundly and forever.
This Christmas let’s give our full attention where it belongs - to Jesus.
Nothing less will do.