The ‘songs of spring’ are long gone. Now as we watch summer’s ‘soft-dying day’ we wait to welcome autumn’s music too. The season of Michaelmas reminds us of the work of ‘angels unawares’.

Autumn

Keats’ ‘gathering swallows twittering in the skies‘ have gone and last week I heard the plaintive call of a chiff chaff, a sign that other migrants are on their way back south, to warmer climes. We’re left alone to contemplate with the sad autumnal song  of ‘the redbreast whistling from a garden croft’.

Summer tries to hang on as if reluctant to leave, while ‘almost autumn’ waits patiently to take her place. The season of the late performers, the Michealmas daises, is here. They revel in all their late glory, the best kept till last. ‘And still more, later flowers for the bees.’

Michaelmas

With the flowering of the Michaelmas daisies and the start of the Michaelmas Term at colleges, schools, and in the legal world,  we’re reminded that September 29th is ‘St Michael and all Angels’ Day’. As one of the Quarter Days in medieval England it was the festival that marked the ending of the husbandman’s year; harvest was over and the baliff,  or reeve, of the manor would be making out the accounts for the year. Even today some leaseholds and rents are settled on these days and this month the Lord Mayor of London is elected. Our Financial Year begins on the first Quarter Day  in early April’

The Work of Angels 

There’s a sense of mystery concerning angels. They’re sent by the ‘God of Surprises’ who delights to surprise and bless us for good. In a world where there are also evil influences at work, the angels are God’s messengers sent to guide, strengthen, guard, protect and encourage us. The Bible is full of them. They appear specially active at the birth of Christ, watching over young children, and when the early Christians were in danger, and they will be active in the final ‘harvest’ at the end of history.

Troubled Jacob in the Old Testament story in Genesis chapter 28, caught a glimpse of heaven touching earth. He saw a stairway with its top in heaven and the angels coming and going in their work. If we did but realise it they’re active everywhere bringing to our lives peace, hope, and a taste of heaven.When we see them working, Jacob’s exclamation could be ours:

Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not.” Genesis 28

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’

(New Testament letter to the Hebrews 13 verse 2  – King James Version)

Angels Unawares

How much we may be missing – unaware of the work of these heavenly beings going on around us on our behalf. When we open our ‘doors’ and lives to show hospitality and kindness to strangers, who knows, we may be entertaining angels unawares, or even Christ himself.

I saw a stranger today.
I put food for him
in the eating-place
And drink
in the drinking-place
And music
in the listening-place.

In the Holy name
of the Trinity
He blessed myself
and my family.
And the lark said in her warble
Often, often, often
Goes Christ
in the stranger’s guise.

An early Celtic ‘Rune’ of Hospitality

“I was a stranger and you invited me in”  –  Matthew’s Gospel 25 verse 35