As Marilyn
and I near our 47th wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks, I find
myself wondering how in the world we’ve been able to not only to maintain, but
to grow in love each day. I think a lot
of it is simply because we know each other so well, and we communicate our love
for one another often. We may not always
use words, but as in any communication process, it isn’t enough to hear what
the other says, but to understand what the person is trying to say. True, loving communication is based on the
couple truly being present to and with one another, open to giving and
receiving what and who each other is.
After
reading Scriptures celebrating the feast of the Archangels Michael, Raphael and
Gabriel, I reflected on how we understand angels in our Judeo-Christian
tradition. In the scriptures, angels are
seen as attending to God (Daniel 7:9-14; John 1:47-51), protectors and
guardians (Revelation 12:7-12), and messengers/communicators between God and
humans (Genesis 28; Tobit 3-12; Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 28:5-7).
Though my
imagination as a child was more engaged with the idea of angels as guardians
and protectors, my adult understanding centers more in angels as messengers/
communicators of God.
Today, we
might not be visited by an angel as in Mary’s annunciation or the announcement
of Jesus’ resurrection, but God continues to communicate with us in special
ways. The question is, how open are we
to God’s attempts to speak to us?
The old television
series, “Touched By An Angel”, attempted to show God’s presence in the world
today through the actions of others. A
search of the web, or any religious bookstores, will turn up lots of angel
statues, images, etc. that can remind us of the people who bless us with their
loving presence in our lives.
However, it
isn’t enough for a message to be sent. There
must be a ‘receiver’, open to the message and ready to attempt to understand
and respond in order for the communication to really take place.
For me,
making time for reflection and prayer is essential to opening myself to God’s
communication/ presence in my life. It
is then that I realize how often I’m touched by God in my life through
others…in their care, concern, acts of kindness, words of challenge, and
unconditional love. And – it’s a
reminder that I’m called to also be God’s presence – to communicate/make God
‘real’ in my actions and words to others.
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