Angels for an autumn of unknowns

Today is the feast of the Archangels. Since it falls within an unusually packed week of good feasts to celebrate with the kids—St. Therese October 1st, the Guardian Angels October 2nd, and St. Francis October 4th—I typically just let the Archangels day pass by unremarked.

But not this year. Not 2020. This year turning the corner into fall feels more ominous.

At the beginning of the pandemic, winter was drawing to a close. This is an important psychological factor in cold places like Iowa. Even as we all were reeling from the sudden isolation, the fear, the people and experiences lost, we at least could point to one thing that was getting better every day. There were little signs of spring, with the bright promise of summer still ahead of us.

That’s a very different backdrop than what we have now. While there are many things I still love about fall, there’s no denying that colder weather and fewer hours of daylight will have a more far-reaching effect on our lives this year as opportunities to gather in person decrease and cases of coronavirus increase.

And—though I’ll leave partisan politics aside and ask you to do the same in your comments—I’m sure many of us would agree that in our too-divided nation, the November election looms as a potentially incendiary event. We can only pray that peace will prevail and do our utmost to be peacemakers ourselves.

In short, I think this year we need more than ever to be reminded that there is goodness we cannot see. Surrounding us, guiding us, fortifying us. Even as we pass through dark valleys. Key words: pass through. We will eventually emerge on the other side of all our present sufferings, whatever that other side may be. And goodness and mercy will have followed us there.

So… that's why this year, I'm making a big deal out of the Feast of the Archangels, or Michaelmas, as it used to be called (and I love that old-sounding name). We read angel stories from the Bible yesterday and acted them out with Lego characters, which took waaaaay longer than I'd planned due to too much spontaneous comedy from my oldest and too much distracting cuteness from the kittens. We made mini-posters (with varying degrees of completion) so the angels could be around us at the breakfast table this morning. And best of all, we're having devil's food cake for dessert tonight, to be stabbed with some toothpick "swords" in honor of St. Michael's battle against evil, before we eat it.

Here's what the kids and I talked about yesterday: *if* angels exist (which I believe, but I realize not everyone does), and *if* the stories recorded about them in the Bible are true, then we can know the following:

--They are not humans who have died; they are completely different, mysterious beings.

--They are often disguised when they come to us, at least at first.

--They are sent not only to announce important births but also to help ordinary people who will never make the pages of history.

--And their message is almost always some variation of: “Do not fear. God is with you.”

St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, we need that message in this strange and challenging year. Pray for us and help us see what's not always visible on the surface.