Hebrews 1:5-6

"After all, when did God ever say to any of the angels: You are my Son . . . All of God's angels must worship him."

Reflection by Anthony B. Robinson

At this time of the year we're into angels. There's angel Gabriel showing up to say to Mary, "Hail, O favored one!" There are angels on Advent calendars and perched on Christmas trees. We hear of choirs of angels filling the night sky to serenade shepherds.

"Angels," Frederick Buechner once wrote, "are powerful spirits whom God sends into the world to wish us well. [But] since we don't expect to see them, we don't."

In the world of the Letter to the Hebrews, from which today's lesson comes, it was different. Whether to believe in angels or not wasn't their problem. Their problem was a world chock-full of angels or spiritual powers, each one presiding over different turf and offering a different menu of blessings and curses. Sort of like having different gods, each with different rules. Different deities/angels at home, at work, in the car, at school, in the shopping center and at the stadium. All very confusing.

Their problem wasn't, "Do angels exist?" but, "How in the world do I figure out which spiritual power/ angel is operative here, and what do I do to get on his/ her good side?"

Especially at the holidays, we may be able to relate to that situation. Life can seem fragmented into a thousand pieces with a thousand competing powers grabbing at us and conflicting loyalties claiming us. We're pulled here and there, frazzled by our efforts to honor the work gods, placate the shopping deities, humor the family angel, and worship the food gods while not betraying the fitness powers.

To people trying to negotiate that crazy, fragmented world, the word here is "only Jesus." None other is worthy of your worship, of your life. It all hangs together in him. Your center is here, in Christ Jesus. Love him so much that you love nothing else too much. And, as real angels always say, "Don’t be afraid."

Prayer

When we are frazzled and fried by all life's competing demands and powers, help us to remember you alone are God. Claim us, settle us, center us and restore us to our right minds. Amen.

About the Author Anthony B. Robinson, a United Church of Christ minister, is a speaker, teacher and writer. His newest book is Stewardship for Vital Congregations, published by The Pilgrim Press. Read his weekly reflections on the current lectionary texts at www.anthonybrobinson.com/ by clicking on Weekly Reading.

The Daily Devotional is now on Facebook. Become a fan!

Sign up to receive Daily Devotionals

More items written by the Stillspeaking Writers' Group