What are angels? Some might turn the question around and ask, are there angels? And, should we aspire to be angels or at least angelic? Or, is that as strange, and as impossible, as a fish aspiring to be a bird?
The word “angel” is rooted in the Greek word angelos, meaning a messenger.
In the Jewish Scriptures, in several places—e.g., Genesis 18—a mysterious, apparently human visitor turns out to be not only a messenger from God but a manifestation, an appearance of God. In some other places—e.g., Daniel 10—an angel messenger from God is also described as distinct, powerful, functioning person.
When talking about angels, we also speak of “fallen angels”—that is, about angels who fail to remain the servants of God that they were meant to be. In fact, we often make this our definition of devils: fallen, in the sense of failed, angels.
Is “angel” a superior being of God’s creation, yet a superior being that is capable of sin, disobedience, and inordinate pride? Some of our religious traditions describe them this way.
In common speech, we tend to think of angels as perfect beings. We even call a very good child or person an “angel”. But, who is without sin, perfect in every way and always? Only by the special grace of God is it possible.
Anyway, even though we may say to a child that “you’re a little angel” or that “you’re a little devil”, we mean no more than “you’re very good” or “you’re very bad”.
The best of angels, according to scripture and tradition, are the ones who serve as the direct messengers of God and the protectors of his chosen people.
This is a pretty good description of what we often aspire to be: bespeaking God by our words and deeds and seeking to aid and protect others.
I’m no angel. I mean in the sense that I unfailingly let all my words and deeds reflect and communicate the love and mercy of God.
I do try, though, to be an angel in this sense—and probably you do, too! Do we succeed always, usually, sometimes, rarely, or never?
The best that is attainable, short of a special intervention of God, is usually—and that probably needs a lot of support from God, too!
I’m no devil, either. I mean in the sense that I unfailingly refuse to let my words and deeds reflect and communicate the love and mercy of God.
Whether we’re devilishly clever or not, the whole trajectory of our lives is a constant struggle to be less devilish and more angelic.
But, have no delusions! You are not, and never will be, perfect.
Even so, the fundamental measure of your life, and mine, is how hard and how often we do successfully succeed in obeying the will of God and witnessing to it, letting God speak through our lives to others.
I don’t want to be devilishly clever, but it’s awkward to say I want to be angelically clever. I just want to be good—that is, ever to strive to be what God intends me to be and to do what God wants, as best as I can understand it.
I don’t aspire to be an angel—or a devil.
I’m just one more imperfect, human being struggling always to discern who I am, what God asks of me, and how best to achieve it and to have the grace and courage to let my life, for better or for worse, bespeak the love and mercy of God.
22 January 2023