Rejoicing: Angels
The day had finally come. All the angels were in a tither as they gathered in the throne to see who would be chosen. The excitement was palpable as they twittered among themselves. Wings were jostled and toes were crunched, but no one cared. Everyone wanted to be chosen to deliver this message. They had wanted thousands of years, and the day was here at last. After what seemed like another thousand years, Yahweh spoke.
"The time of my Son's Advent has arrived."
The crowd let out raucous shouts of jubilation. "The time has come!" responded the angels.
"One of you will descend and make known to the blessed vessel what will occur. As you are all aware, the journey there and back is fraught with many perils. The one I have chosen must be bold and dauntless but also tender and gracious. This is not an easy task, but it is instrumental in continuing the plan."
"It will be as You have said!" responded the angels, the excitement and suspense building.
"Gabriel!"
The crowd erupted with whistles and applause. Congratulations reigned down upon Gabriel. So many clapped him on the back that the tingling sensation remained for a few days. Gabriel was in such a state of shock that it took him a minute to regain his senses. He walked toward the throne.
Gabriel had descended twice during the time Daniel and to Zechariah not that long ago, but each journey is different. The enemy is on constant lookout, seeking to undermine the work of the Kingdom, and no angel returns unscathed. Yet, the joy beginning to overwhelm Gabriel pushed the negative thoughts aside. He thought his part in the plan was finished and that he wouldn't have another chance since he delivered the message of the precursor to Zechariah. Yet, out of the thousands of angels to deliver this most precious and long-awaited messages, he was chosen. The others would form a line at the chance to arm wrestle him out of the opportunity. He would be present to witness the blessed vessel receiving the message.
Facing Yahweh, Gabriel exclaimed,"I accept. I will deliver the message." The crowd erupted into cheers again. Any hesitation he might have felt earlier dissipated with these words. The assignment was his now and there was no turning back. In the time leading up to his departure, Gabriel practiced delivering the message. He emphasized different words, modulated his voices, and even tried an Egyptian accent. He was beginning to be nervous, for this was the most cherished of all messages, but the moment was approaching.
He burst for in a brilliant light into the presence of the blessed vessel--Mary, a young girl living in Nazareth. She turned toward his direction guarding her eyes from the light. The moment had arrived. Taking a deep breath, Gabriel proclaimed with all the joy he could issue, "Greetings, O favored one! The Lord is with you!" The words came faster as he saw her puzzled face. "Do not be afraid Mary. God has a surprise for you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call His name Jesus."*
During the journey home, Gabriel smiled to himself. Mary took the news better than he thought she would. Maybe that should not surprise him since God had chosen her to be the mother of His Son. He knew her character and her faith. Once he arrived home, he saw angels setting up a countdown outside the throne room. 39 weeks, 6 days, 23 hours, 29 minutes, and 43 seconds. Gabriel knew that when the countdown hits 00:00:00:00:00, the joy of all the angels will burst forth below in the likes that have never been seen or heard on the earth. Gabriel started to smile as the anticipation began to build inside him. And then, he laughed.
*Luke 1:26-33. I used both ESV and The Message.
"The time of my Son's Advent has arrived."
The crowd let out raucous shouts of jubilation. "The time has come!" responded the angels.
"One of you will descend and make known to the blessed vessel what will occur. As you are all aware, the journey there and back is fraught with many perils. The one I have chosen must be bold and dauntless but also tender and gracious. This is not an easy task, but it is instrumental in continuing the plan."
"It will be as You have said!" responded the angels, the excitement and suspense building.
"Gabriel!"
The crowd erupted with whistles and applause. Congratulations reigned down upon Gabriel. So many clapped him on the back that the tingling sensation remained for a few days. Gabriel was in such a state of shock that it took him a minute to regain his senses. He walked toward the throne.
Gabriel had descended twice during the time Daniel and to Zechariah not that long ago, but each journey is different. The enemy is on constant lookout, seeking to undermine the work of the Kingdom, and no angel returns unscathed. Yet, the joy beginning to overwhelm Gabriel pushed the negative thoughts aside. He thought his part in the plan was finished and that he wouldn't have another chance since he delivered the message of the precursor to Zechariah. Yet, out of the thousands of angels to deliver this most precious and long-awaited messages, he was chosen. The others would form a line at the chance to arm wrestle him out of the opportunity. He would be present to witness the blessed vessel receiving the message.
Facing Yahweh, Gabriel exclaimed,"I accept. I will deliver the message." The crowd erupted into cheers again. Any hesitation he might have felt earlier dissipated with these words. The assignment was his now and there was no turning back. In the time leading up to his departure, Gabriel practiced delivering the message. He emphasized different words, modulated his voices, and even tried an Egyptian accent. He was beginning to be nervous, for this was the most cherished of all messages, but the moment was approaching.
He burst for in a brilliant light into the presence of the blessed vessel--Mary, a young girl living in Nazareth. She turned toward his direction guarding her eyes from the light. The moment had arrived. Taking a deep breath, Gabriel proclaimed with all the joy he could issue, "Greetings, O favored one! The Lord is with you!" The words came faster as he saw her puzzled face. "Do not be afraid Mary. God has a surprise for you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call His name Jesus."*
During the journey home, Gabriel smiled to himself. Mary took the news better than he thought she would. Maybe that should not surprise him since God had chosen her to be the mother of His Son. He knew her character and her faith. Once he arrived home, he saw angels setting up a countdown outside the throne room. 39 weeks, 6 days, 23 hours, 29 minutes, and 43 seconds. Gabriel knew that when the countdown hits 00:00:00:00:00, the joy of all the angels will burst forth below in the likes that have never been seen or heard on the earth. Gabriel started to smile as the anticipation began to build inside him. And then, he laughed.
*Luke 1:26-33. I used both ESV and The Message.
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