Thursday, September 29, 2022
Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
We’re all just walking each other home
In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
As I went to bed I thought of the angels, ascending and descending. Why not, I wondered? Would they come to me, perhaps as I slept, or before, or just after, while the waves in my brain were more receptive than controlling?
I lay down, my head on two pillows, closed my eyes, and waited. Jesus spoke, as to Nathanael:
You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
I opened my eyes again, surprised. Jesus is here, with me? But I saw nothing but the ceiling in my bedroom, and heard nothing, and so I closed my eyes once more.
I will give thanks to you O Lord, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of your angels I will sing your praise.
I heard singing above the white noise of my electric fan. The music blew sweetly right up inside my skin, around my mind, through my heart. I knew it was the angels singing, and Jesus was not far away. I began to sing too, all of it with my eyes closed, no longer waiting but rejoicing in this splendid, impossible moment. I knew what I was hearing was something I could not see. But just in case, I opened my eyes again.
I saw the picture my mother, and her mother before her, saw when they awoke, hanging on the wall left of my bed. In that moment I knew how safe I was, and I looked on for what seemed like several minutes more.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw one like a son of man, coming on the clouds of heaven. When he reached the Ancient One he received dominion, glory and kingship.
All hail King Jesus, all hail Emmanuel. King of kings, Lord of lords, bright morning star. Music flooded my heart and I wanted to jump for joy. How helpless I was, in bed as I was, to jump like that, but I felt like I was flying.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out.
Suddenly I knew why I could have this vision. How we could spend all day singing at the dome. What so many generations before us had not known. Jesus walked the earth, and Satan could no longer roam to and fro. The tables were turned on Satan. He was not free, and we were. The angels called out for me to join them, for all of us to join them, and together celebrate our freedom.
We have conquered Satan the accuser by the Blood of the Lamb and by testimony. Love for life did not deter the death of our brothers. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them.
I lay still in my bed. Crickets chirped just outside my window. Barely begun waxing, the moon would not rise till well past sunrise. The dwelling place of the stars felt close, bright in the dry air. All sounds faded before this wonder, of the world alive and well. No fan nor freezer, no refrigerator or computer, no buzz of circuits all around the house, only the crickets, only the angels and the quiet footfalls of Jesus, coming in love to hold me through the night.
When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. And we shall sing of the ways of the Lord, great is the glory of the Lord our God. In the sight of the angels we will sing your praises!
(Daniel 7, Revelation 12, Psalm 138, Psalm 103, John 1)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
#
