Michaelmas (transferred) – October 4, 2025

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, on the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels—Michaelmas—we gather to remember the unseen messengers of God, the mighty ones who do God’s bidding, and the mysterious ways heaven touches earth. The lectionary gives us a rich tapestry: Jacob’s dream at Bethel, the psalmist’s praise of the heavenly host, the cosmic battle in Revelation, and Jesus’ promise of angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. These are not gentle images. They are fierce, luminous, and full of movement. They remind us that the spiritual realm is not distant—it is near, active, and charged with grace.

Let’s begin with Jacob.

In Genesis 28, Jacob is on the run. He’s deceived his father, betrayed his brother, and now he’s alone in the wilderness. He stops for the night, using a stone for a pillow. And there, in his sleep, heaven opens. “He dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it” (Gen 28:12). In this moment of vulnerability, Jacob is given a vision—not of judgment, but of connection. The ladder is not a threat; it’s a promise. God stands beside him and says, “Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go” (v.15).

Michaelmas reminds us that the angels are not distant figures in stained glass. They are signs of God’s nearness. They ascend and descend, not to impress, but to assure. They move between heaven and earth to remind us that we are never alone—not in the wilderness, not in exile, not in fear.

Psalm 103 echoes this with praise: “Bless the Lord, you angels of his, you mighty ones who do his bidding… Bless the Lord, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion” (Ps 103:20–22). The angels are not just warriors—they are worshippers. They are not just messengers—they are ministers of praise. And we are invited to join them. Michaelmas is not only about angelic power—it’s about angelic praise. It’s about aligning our lives with the rhythm of heaven.

But the angels are not only gentle. Revelation 12 gives us a glimpse of the great battle: “Michael and his angels fought against the dragon… and the great dragon was thrown down” (Rev 12:7–9). This is not metaphor—it is mystery. It speaks to the reality of spiritual struggle. Evil is real. The dragon is real. But so is Michael. So are the angels. And so is the Lamb.

The victory in Revelation is not won by brute force—it is won by testimony and trust. “They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (v.11). Michaelmas calls us to courage—not the courage of swords, but the courage of witness. The courage to speak truth, to live faithfully, to resist evil not with hate, but with holiness.

And then we come to John. Jesus sees Nathanael and says, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” (John 1:47). Nathanael is stunned. “How do you know me?” Jesus replies, “I saw you under the fig tree.” And then He says something even more astonishing: “You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man” (v.51).

Do you hear the echo of Jacob’s ladder?

Jesus is the ladder. Jesus is the meeting place of heaven and earth. The angels ascend and descend upon him because he is the bridge, the gate, the way. Michaelmas is not just about angels—it’s about Jesus. It’s about the One who makes heaven accessible, who brings divine presence into human life, who stands beside us in the wilderness and says, “I am with you.”

So what does this mean for us?

It means that in our moments of exile, God is near. In our moments of praise, we join the angels. In our moments of struggle, we are not alone. And in our moments of wonder, we glimpse the ladder—the connection between heaven and earth, between God and us.

Michaelmas invites us to live with reverence, with courage, and with hope. To trust that the angels still move. That Michael still fights. That Jesus still sees us under the fig tree. And that heaven is not far—it is near, and it is open.

Amen.