On angels’ wings

Do you believe in angels?” a student once asked me. “Yes, I do!” I replied. She continued, “With wings and white robes?” Smiling, I explained: “They wouldn’t require robes since they’re spirits who don’t have bodies to decorate! But, angels’ wings signify the assurance that God is near: protecting, inspiring and guiding me.” From the gates of Eden in its first book of Genesis to God’s heavenly court in the Apocalypse, its last, the Bible is full of accounts of angels. The word “angel” is derived from the Greek aggelos, meaning “messenger”, and is linked to evangellion, meaning “good news”. Angels bring God’s good news.

Today Christians celebrate the feast of three archangels: Gabriel, Michael and Raphael. The names of the archangels end with “... el”, which is the Hebrew expression for God. Angels are intimately united with God and committed to executing God’s plans. Catholic tradition holds that God loves me and loves you so immensely that God entrusts each of us with a “guardian angel” whose feast falls on October 2.

Gabriel is God’s special envoy. He’s the one who brings a message to Mary, Jesus’ mother, that she will give birth to God’s son. The holy Quran also considers Gabriel as Allah’s messenger who reveals to Prophet Mohammed. There are times when I falter and fail. And I’m frequently fearful. Michael is the archang-el who protects against dangers and fights against evil. Similarly, like an antenna that picks up sound waves, my guardian angel sends signals of what’s sound, and what’s not, thereby shielding me from harm and arming me to face challenges that unexpectedly arise.

Raphael’s Hebrew name signifies “God heals”. In the Bible, Raphael cures Tobit’s blindness, accompanies his son, Tobias, on his travels and helps him to marry Sarah. Brahmacharis like me might not require Raphael’s help in finding spouses, but I often seek healing and harmony. It’s heartening to have an angelic assistant to accompany me along life’s yatra.

In my world where God’s word is often muted by my iPod and God’s will is overrun by my egoistic plans, my guardian angel advises me to take “time out” to review my decisions, renew my resolve and remap my route. Midst the dreary desert of daily drudgery, she cautions me about mirages and carries me to oases where my mind finds meaning, and my spirit, rest.

In Genesis, Jacob dreams of a long ladder with angels going up and down on it. That, in sum, is the main mission of angels: descending to bring me God’s good news and ascending to plant my prayers in God’s garden. Surely, one day, they will carry me on their wings back to God’s dwelling place.