The month of October has been identified by many of our congregations as an opportune time to express appreciation for their pastors, which is certainly appropriate in view of the good gifts that God bestows upon His Church on earth through the Office of the Holy Ministry and the men that He has called, ordained, and sent to bear that Office. And those very thoughts came to mind this past Sunday, as I had the opportunity to celebrate the Feast of St. Michael & All Angels with one of our congregations. In particular, the Collect appointed for that Feast confesses that God has “ordained and constituted the service of angels and men in a wonderful order.”
There is a relationship and some similarity between “the service of angels and men,” because the Lord has so arranged both for the care of His people, His Church, on earth as it is in heaven. But there are also significant differences in the wonderful way that God has so ordered these things.
The Epistle to the Hebrews opens with an emphasis on the distinction between the holy angels as ministering spirits and Christ Jesus, the incarnate Son of God (Heb. 1:1-14). The holy angels are “ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation” (v. 14), whereas the Son “is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature,” who “upholds the universe by the Word of His power” (v. 3). What is more, the Son of God is not the Savior of angels, nor did He become an angel, but by His Incarnation He has become true Man and the Savior of mankind, sharing in our flesh and blood, that we might share His divine Life.
Along similar lines, there are both parallels and differences between the heavenly angels and the human “angels” (messengers) who are called, ordained, and sent in the Name and stead of Christ Jesus. The “angels” of the seven churches addressed in the Book of the Revelation to St. John, for example, are most appropriately understood to be the pastors of those churches, who are given to preach and teach the Word of Christ Jesus to their congregations (Revelation 2–3).
Significantly, it is not the angelic spirits but the human “angels” or pastors who are given to preach and administer the Holy Gospel. One of the most striking examples of this difference is found in the appearance of an angel to the Roman Centurion, Cornelius, for the primary purpose of telling him to send for St. Peter the Apostle, that he should come and preach the Word of the Lord to that household (Acts 10). In general, the angels from heaven announce and call attention to the mighty works of God among His people on earth; but in doing so they direct the people to their pastors – and they direct the pastors to the people, to carry out the Ministry of the Gospel.
As we give thanks for our pastors this month – and throughout the year! – let us consider the beautiful example of the Bethlehem shepherds, who received the announcement of the Savior’s birth from the heavenly angels and then immediately acted on the Word of the Lord to seek Him out and find Him – and who in turn declared the good news of great joy to everyone they met. In those shepherds we do find such a great picture of the work that our parish pastors are entrusted with, that is, to seek the Lord where He is to be found, and to act as messengers of His mercy.
God grant that all our pastors would be faithful recipients, confessors, and ministers of the Word and Sacraments of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, the great Good Shepherd of us all. And grant that all His people, in turn – the lambs and sheep of His green pastures – would hear and receive the Gospel from their faithful shepherds, those earthly angels of God, to the praise of His glorious grace, and for the strengthening of faith in Christ unto the Life everlasting in body and soul.