The rustle of wings

Luke 1:5-13

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.

It seems that Angels were frequent visitors

in days gone past

Bringing good news and bad

Bringing terror and joy

Bringing anticipation and trepidation

Angels - messengers of God

Are they less frequent today?

Or is it that we're less inclined to notice

or pay heed?

Lost in cyberspace

there is no room for the celestial

And so we miss the gentle rustle

of angels wings

and the good news that they bring.

Prayer

God, in all the clamour, give us space to wait on angels, to hear your message conveyed by unconventional means to ordinary people in out of the way places. Come, Lord Jesus, Come.