Sermon - St. Michael and All Angels 2021 - Matthew 18:1-11

St. Michael, Raphael, 1504

The idea of patron saints is rather popular and attractive in various circles of Christianity, particularly in Roman Catholicism. It’s just a nice thought that there’s someone watching over you, guarding you, and guiding you during life’s trials. That said, having patron saints is a wholly unbiblical notion, since the Bible nowhere says that when we die God puts us to work taking care of people on earth. Death for the Christian is described as rest and being in the nearer presence of God. Those who’ve died don’t travel between heaven and earth. It’s quite possible that the church in heaven is praying to God for the church on earth, but that’s a far cry from being a patron saint.

Moreover, Christians don’t become angels when they die. Angels are a unique type of created being, distinct from humans. Humans were created as humans, and angels were created as angels. Humans no more become angels in heaven than they become porcupines or maple trees in heaven. Angels were created with their own purpose and work to accomplish, and that brings us to our main point today. Because of the work God’s given them to do, angels are the true “patron saints,” since they watch over us, guard us, and guide us in this life.

Hebrews says that angels are “all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation.” Did not Christ say: “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.” Of course God is truly the One watching over, guarding, and guiding us. Nevertheless, God usually chooses not to directly interact with us, and therefore works through that which He’s created. Just as God takes care of children by giving them parents, or feeds and clothes us by giving us plants and animals, so He likewise cares for us by giving us angels. 

The fact that angels protect us is evident from the Bible. We’d be here all day if we were to look closely at every reference to angels protecting people in the Bible. But just to get a taste, angels brought Lot and his family out of Sodom; angels fought for Gideon’s army of 300 men to defeat 120,000 Midianites; an angel protected Daniel in the lion’s den; angels fought a war in heaven against the devil and cast him out! Just as the angels protected Christians in the past, so will they continue to protect us today.

Just as the angels protected the saints of old, so do they guide Christians in this life with the Word of God. The angel Gabriel announced the conception of Jesus to Mary and Joseph and told them when to flee into Egypt; the angels announced to the shepherds that Christ had been born; an angel comforted Christ in the garden; angels announced the resurrection of Jesus to the women. Angels are messengers of God who carry the Good News upon their lips! They conquered the devil “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”

Angels guide us in praising God! Towards the beginning of the Divine Service we join in the angels’ song with the shepherds: “Glory be to God on high and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” Before we receive the Lord’s body and blood we sing the Sanctus, the song Isaiah witnessed the angels singing in heaven: “I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!””

God has sent the angels to guard and guide us, and boy do we need that help! When the ancient dragon the devil was cast out of heaven, he came here to earth. The great heavenly battle between good and evil is now fought here! “Woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” The devil is prowling about us like a roaring lion, seeking whom to devour. Since he was cast out of heaven, he can’t stomach us humans going to the paradise from which he was banished. But the dragon doesn’t appear like a dreadful dragon or a roaring lion, rather he disguises himself as an angel of light.

The devil does lead us into the most vile and dreadful evils, he leads us to child sacrifice, witchcraft, riots, sexual perversions, violence, and every manner of demonic delight. But that’s not where it starts nor does he make those things look so bad when they do happen. Instead he makes them look good and attractive, like holy and blessed things even. The devils tempts us with what appears good, but is ultimately evil. “Woe to the world for temptations to sin!”

These temptations to sin are dreadfully serious! If we could fight temptations physically, then Jesus says that’s what we would have to do! “If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.”

Jesus isn’t joking or using hyperbole; sin really is so serious that if our bodily limbs were causing us to sin we should cut them off! But here’s the deal, we don’t fight against the devil and temptations physically, this is not a war of flesh and blood, this is a spiritual war. It’s not as simple and easy as cutting off your hand or plucking out your eye, it’s about what’s going on in your heart and mind, what’s taking place in your soul.

This is why temptations and sin are so dangerous: it’s not just your body which is injured, but your eternal soul. Sins can have bodily consequences, as for example gluttony can lead to a host of problems. But most seriously, sins have spiritual consequences which lead to the eternal damnation of our bodies and souls in the eternal fires of hell.

This is a horrific battle we’re engaged in and it’s one we often don’t even realize is happening. Our simple little decisions, the temptations that we succumb to, can have everlasting consequences for us and for others we also lead into sin. So thank God that He’s sent the angels to fight on our behalf, to guard and guide us in the heat of battle! The main way that the angels fight for us is with the blood of the Lamb and by the Word of God!

The angels do not come fighting by their own strength, but they fight using the might of God. The angels on their own are powerless, but Jesus gives them all of their strength. Christ is the Lamb of God who has forgiven sin by shedding His blood upon the cross. Piercing our flesh won’t save us, but the pierced flesh and blood of Jesus atones for our sins and saves eternally. The only strength which the angels possess is that which is found in the blood of Jesus. The blood of the Lamb is enough to rescue us from every temptation of body and soul.

So the reason you don’t see angels around you all the time fighting for you, even though they are, is that they fight for you by pointing you to Jesus only. The angels are most powerful not when you’re looking at them, but when your eyes are fixed on the crucified Jesus and your ears are tuned to His precious Word.

When you feel as though everything is coming crashing down, as if your sins and the sins of all the world are just too much to bear; when it feels as though all hope is lost and there’s no turning things back around; when it looks like we Christians have lost and that the church is shrinking and will die, be encouraged to know that God is still fighting for you, the angels are still battling against the devil, and the victory is already yours. 

The prophet Daniel saw a glimpse of that victory. Even when it appears as if all hope is lost, that is when we shall finally be delivered. “There shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

God bless you with the courage and fortitude of the angels and archangels, so that you may fight against demons and their temptations with the blood of the Lamb and the Word of God.