Logos are big in today’s world. Advertising has taught us the meaning of the “Nike Swoosh”. We know the message it carries.
Today, I’m thinking about angels as a symbol of Christmas. For me they are one of God’s wonderful logos. Angels can be male or female, they can speak directly to our hearts, they can sing heavenly music, and they can touch us through other people and animals. Angels for me are somehow free of the limits of this world. They carry God’s message as they watching over us, prodding us, celebrating with us and holding us when we cry. In the Christmas story, angels bring God’s message of new life – first to Zechariah, then Mary and Joseph, then the shepherds.
Every time I see an angel on a Christmas card, atop a Christmas tree, in a Christmas scene, I remember our entire Christmas story. I give thanks that God came in Jesus to teach us how to live and love. I give thanks that God comes in each one of us today. As a logo, the symbol of an Angel feels great to me.
In my home, I have “knick-knack angels” – black, brown, white, native, children, adults. They are a gentle reminder for me that God is here in my home. They speak of the amazing variety of God’s creation. Into my life, God has sent human angels: family, friends, even sometimes strangers. Each one reminds me that God loves us and cares for us. Each one reminds me to treasure God’s beautiful world.
As you begin your Christmas preparations, keep your eyes and your hearts open for God’s angels. Every time you see one, every time you experience one, tune into God’s love. And don’t forget, that you, too, are God’s angel. A spark of God was born within you at conception and has grown within you ever since. Enjoy God’s presence within you. Look for your opportunities to share God’s love.
“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’” (Luke 1:26-28)
