The Noise of Wings (Midweek)

 

The Noise of Wings

Fr. Tony’s Midweek Message

November 29, 2017

I have been thinking a lot about angels recently.  The idea that there are such things as personalities without bodies is strange indeed to the modern mind.  “Angels dancing on a needle’s point” is proverbially the ultimate needless point—a late medieval refinement about the unseen and unknown that Occam’s razor—the simplest explanation is the best—shaved away long ago at the start of the Renaissance.   

But the idea persists.  We sing each week about “angels and archangels and all the host of heaven who forever sing” to the glory of God.   Occasionally, the priest in blessing asks God to send “the holy angels to defend” those being sent out into the world after worship. 

At the heart of it, belief in angels is an expression of hope and yearning that in this messy, complex world, where unseen forces threaten and frighten us daily, there are benevolent and loving unseen forces too.   

In the old Gospel tune “Angel Band,” we sing,

“O come Angel Band, come and around me stand
O bear me away on your snow-white wings to my immortal home.

I know I'm near the holy ranks of friends and kindred dear
I've brushed the dew on Jordan's banks, the crossing must be near.
I've almost gained my Heavenly home, my spirit loudly sings
The Holy ones, behold they come, I hear the noise of wings.” 

The noise of wings.  We once in a while catch glimpses, hear whisperings, and catch the sweet fragrances of goodness and love at work in the world around us.   Such momentary and occasional perceptions are of something real.  The idea of unseen beings carrying out the work and will of the Love beneath and behind all of life is an image that helps us perceive graphically the truth that God is love, and that all will be well.    Our Trinitarian faith sees God as nothing less than personal; it is no great stretch for me to see these unseen instrumentalities of God as personal also. 

Grace and peace. 

Fr. Tony+