Mount Calvary
Biblical, Traditional, Evangelical, Lutheran
Church
Feast of St Michael & All Angels at Mount Calvary Church
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The basis of our meditation for the Feast of St. Michael & All Angels and the installation of Vicar Michael Jacob Usner, a new chapter in the life of Mount Calvary and his life and family, is from Matthew 18:10, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”
Could God have created a world without angels? Could He have done it? Well, I suppose He could have, just as He could have, if we suppose, made a world without Michael here, but he did not. But where would we be without angels?
What was it like for the shepherds to hear the company of angels, praising God and saying “Glory to God in the Highest, and, you know shepherds, over there in that manger, now there is peace on earth because of what this child is going to do, die for you. Be afraid no longer, because sins are forgiven as God’s goodwill from heaven has come to earth for you.”
In a world without angels we would have no angel knocking at the door of Mary’s home. Gabriel was his name, angels with names, I wonder if there is an angel named Bob or Harry. Was Gabriel joyous when God gave him this responsibility? Go tell Mary and bring her the message! I imagine it was an excited knock, and he could not wait even one moment for joy of tripping over the news, for angels desire to look into these things (1 Peter 1:12), and the bible pictures angels, as also having emotion, rejoicing even, when one lone sinner, beats his breast and repents (Luke 15:10).
Where would we be without the seraphs, angels with six wings, the cherubim, like Gabriel, or archangels, like Michael, thrones (Ezekiel 1:15-21), powers, dominions, virtues, and principalities (Colossians 1:16), evn angels described as wheels full of eyes. I guess God could have created a world without angels, but it is hard to imagine, because He didn’t. God loves to create. As a carpenter likes to build a house, an artist sits down to their easel, or a road construction crew heads out on Monday morning, God creates things of use and benefit for others, for their joy and contemplation, for their service to Him and others, for them to participate in His divine life. Asking if God could have might be like asking if a couple who was able to have children would decide not to. I guess it is possible, but it seems rather impossible.
God uses means. He is a God of means, and whether of angels above or servants below, God in His order uses created beings. He uses moms to take care of kids. He uses dads to take kids to the parks and push them on swings (and put down their phones). He uses brothers and sisters to make sure siblings can fight and laugh, and know love of the fiercest kind. He uses angels to do His biddings, swift seraphs with swords. He used an angel to role the stone away, and when an angel took to pride, He used an angel, Michael, to cast him down.
And God uses humble angels, messengers who align themselves to their heavenly calling, who do not depart from it like Satan did, who are content to live from God and under God to do His work. They hold not the power of the earthly sword, but the heavenly one, they bear the Word. They bring not earthly aid, but heavenly, a word that comforts, rebukes, consoles, brings God’s peace, pardon, and judgment to sinful man.
In Isaiah 6, where we see the vision of the Holy, Holy, Holy God, the angels with six wings shield their face. They are not seen to man. They shield their feet. Their feet are not seen by man. But with two they fly. Their jurisdiction is in heaven. They fly before God’s throne. But your face is not veiled Michael. And your feet are not hidden. And you have no wings. For you are a man of the earth, appointed to give testimony on earth. The angels have their jurisdiction as seen by their wings, but their body parts are shrouded in where they do not ordinarily tread. You give testimony here. Yet like Isaiah you are unclean. If you ever doubt it, ask the people around you! Oh, to have a coal, such a coal that purged all sin. For Isaiah said in his sinful despair, “I am ruined, for I am a man of unclean lips.” Yet believe in this bloody sanctifying burning coal, the holiness and heart of Jesus which pulsates with a radiance of love to burn up all sin. Now you can speak, and say, “Here am I send me!”
Today we mark the beginning of that work for Michael. Today, on this day that we remember St. Michael above, we consider God’s saint Michael below. The name Michael is unusual, very much so. It is a question with no spoken answer. Who is like God? And what is the answer? None is like our God. It is to put things in that right order. God is God. You are created, Not to usurp that, but to serve underneath. Yet, none is like God who would do such work and employ such a man for his work.
And to the congregation, will you receive this angel among you. We say “he’s such an angel,” as in perfection. He won’t be that. He will speak when he should be quiet. He will be quiet when he should speak. He will not always listen when he should. He will sometimes have nothing to say and have a stammering tongue like Moses. He may have quirks like Paul who was mighty in letter but disappointing in person. But will you receive him as God’s angel, that through a humble and unlikely instrument, like as God did through Gabriel or Michael of old, that God will provide and give you the Word that you need. Will you be there when he speaks?
Will you accept this man when he gives you a word of rebuke? Will you consider it as kindness? Or will you assault his character, pry into his sin, justify why you do not need to listen? They ate angels’ food in the wilderness. The law of God was ministered to them by angels. They had a humble angel named Moses, who never asked for the job but lead them, defended them, prayed for them, and when he turned his back, they disobeyed. But even God sent His angel, the uncreated Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament, who is God, and this Angel of the Lord took up flesh. And though He came with the Word of God, healed their sick, took up their children in His arms, they put Him on a cross. They killed Him. They mocked Him. But what they meant for evil, God meant for good to save them alive, as it is to this day. For though they crucified Him, He died for their sins. And angels came and ministered to Him in the Garden when all ran and fled. And angels came and brought him food when He was tempted in the wilderness. He rejoiced to be in the company of prayer, in the company of God’s angels, who were sent as instruments of fire, to minister salvation to him.
Will you receive this angel? No the answer is, you will not, but even through this God sends him, and even through your rejection this angel will learn even more. For it is not your perfection or his that makes this work, but your failure and his that binds you together into one to trust in the mercy of God all the more. You will hurt him and wound him, though this is no excuse, yet this will make him all the better future pastor. He will hurt you and wound you, but through your grace to him, you will show him that the office is greater than the person who holds it, but is based on your love for Christ Himself. Grace and pain will bind you together into one.
And what of his wife, and his children? For many women it was not what they asked for. My wife called off our engagement when one pastor’s wife lamented her job. I have heard of women leaving their pastor husband’s notes and saying “now you can be with your real girlfriend.” No one sees when the wife’s bed is empty because he is making that hospital call. No one sees that dad isn’t in the stands when you hit that home run ball and wish he was there. But that pain is the forming of something new in you, something worth dying for and giving your life for, the holy catholic and apostolic church. May the Spirit help you see it, and may He save you from all forms of resentment that would nurse bitterness in your hearts.
A prophet is not held in honor in his hometown. Your family and friends may see you in this shirt. Ha! Michael in a clerical! They know you best. It might take some getting used to. They know your past, your history, all the reasons why you are disqualified from this office. I moved 500 miles to get away from the stories of my past. But yours are around you. May as you see them, you be humbled, and reminded, like dogs of the past, may they bark, to remind you, and call you to what you are capable of, but what God, by His grace has given and delivered you from. May their taunts, be that which drives you to your Savior Jesus all the more, to proclaim him more purely and boldly and strongly. May your pastorate and the unlikeliness be a testament to God’s pure grace. May their unwillingness to hear you, turn you to the One who you also, in the past, failed to hear. For the angels above stand in the glow and radiance of God, and here you stand at the altar in the radiance of the God who has appointed you for the work, of bringing the angelic Word a mission and message and burning coal from God’s Almighty throne.
You also by the pastorate of the Missouri Synod will not be seen as a real pastor. You have already begun to see this. For they gave up everything, and what of you. Your presence undermines what they have given. But you must understand their insults. Paul appointed men in every city. Some follow and go, some are appointed and stay. The church is free to establish pastoral offices. Training, sending, ordaining is essential, not always in the manner it is done. May you not respond to their insults, but show them by the humble servant work that you do. Christ has given me this office. You will look at Christ and know the keys He has given. But honor these men and respect that, you have something different to offer, in some ways your road will be more difficult, harder, because you do not leave.
A world without angels? It is hard to imagine. God works through means, and through means He gets us through this vale of tears and sees us safely home.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The peace of God which passes all human understanding, guard your hearts and minds through faith in Jesus Christ.
The service bulletin can be found here.
