I don’t know if medieval scholars really discussed how many angels can sit on the head of a pin. Thomas discusses questions about angels ion Summa Theologica including, “Can several angels be in the same place?” These may have been hot topics in the lake 1200’s, but I suspect that such speculation has never drawn much of a popular following. Most of the time, when the Biblical narrative includes angels, the stories are about events that are unique in history.The angel who spoke of Joseph and Mary and the multitude of the heavenly host that attended the angel making the announcement to the shepherds are parts of stories of events that won’t be repeated. Visions of angels by John of Patmos in his famous revelation are parts of an experience that truly defies the power of language to express.

I have no special knowledge of angels. I don’t know how many can sit or dance on a pin. I don’t even know if their preferred dress is white as often depicted in European and American artwork or red as show in many paintings from Mexico and Central America. I have a hunch that the costumes we use for those playing the role of angels in Christmas pageants is not completely accurate. But then, I am suspicious about the preference of ancient shepherds for bath robes, too.

Here is what I do know: God’s message is often carried by simple folk who don’t seem to have wings to fly. I may not have seen an angel, but I know a fireman who gets off his shift and instead of heading home, first goes to deliver firewood to warm his neighbors. He might not ever say, “Do not be afraid, for behold I bring you glad tidings,” but his actions speak of the presence of Christ in the world.

I’ve looked at the tips of needles and the heads of pins without being able to count the number of members of the heavenly host. I don’t even know if they are sitting or dancing. But I do know a couple who spend their own money to travel to Costa Rica to volunteer in the Vacation Bible School of a tiny church on the eye of the city where children of displaced and dysfunctional families attend in part just to get the food that is dispense. They live an important message about God’s love that cannot be easily expressed in words.

I’m no expert in the color preferences for angel clothing, but I know a woman who faithfully comes to her church and tends its plants, who works behind the scenes to put up and take down banners to collate and fold newsletters and whose cheerful tone speaks of the love of God without any thought of recognition or reward. A good, faithful and cheerful servant is a blessing that carries a message from God every day.

I have no idea whether the angel Gabriel is best portrayed by a male or female actor, but I know a man who faithfully visits other church members, often taking a few homemade cookies and sometimes just taking the time to sit and listen and demonstrate the love of God and the support of the church to those who are not able to attend church. Sometimes he pays visits to people who are not the easiest people in the world to visit. Always he brings God’s message of universal welcome.

I can’t tell you whether all angels have perfect pitch or if some angel choruses have a tendency to go flat when singing without instrumental accompaniment, but I do know a man of very modest means who always finds a way to share whatever he has, be it a meal or warm clothing or the contents of his wallet when he encounters other people who have needs. His incredible generosity reflects God’s generosity and carries a message of salvation to people who don’t spend much time listening to sermons.

I can’t tell you for certain if demons are angels who have misbehaved or a different sort of character entirely. I do know, however, a couple who cheerfully give rides to church to a man who would not be able to attend if he didn’t get rides from volunteers. They work hard to help him make friends in the midst of the congregation and they even arrange for others to give rides when they have to travel and be away on a Sunday.

I’m a bit unclear on whether angels can change from being invisible to visible and then become invisible again. But I know a guy who spends most of his days off working on projects around the church. Without recognition, he cheerfully repairs broken items, checks the electrical system, adjusts doors and hinges and can be seen cutting firewood for others when it is below zero outdoors.

I don’t know if angels argue over who gets to play the trumpet and who has to tune the harps, but I know a dozen people who show up to help load trucks in response to a simple request from folks they’ve never met for a little more firewood to heat cold homes and supplement small budgets for home heat.

I don’t know if the angel who brought the ram to substitute at the near-sacrifice of Isaac bought, borrowed or stole the animal. I do know, however, a group of people who are working on Friday afternoons to make beautiful stained glass for a church that has none and they aren’t even members of that church.

I can’t tell you if Gabriel and Michael are brothers, or if God has an angel named Theodore (adored by God seems like a good name for an angel). I don’t know if angels generally are multilingual or if they prefer to speak Hebrew or Latin on their days off. But I do know a congregation that cares more about mission and outreach and serving others than about status and position.

There is no shortage of messengers of God in this world. And the ones I know are well-occupied serving others and don’t spend much of their time dancing on pins.

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