Advent

The angel Gabriel from heaven came.

Gabriel was the archangel who announced to the Virgin Mary that she had been chosen to bear the Son of God (Luke 1:27-38).

Because of this he has traditionally become associated with other message-bearing angels in the Bible: appearing to Zaccharias to tell him that his wife Elizabeth would have a son, to Joachim, the father of the Virgin Mary, and, in the Old Testament, to the mother of Samson, in the same role.

In paintings of the Annunciation he appears before the Virgin carrying a lily, his attribute, and sometimes with a scroll on which are written the words with which he greeted her in Saint Luke's Gospel.

Looking at Gabriel and his appearances to different people, we can glimpse something of God’s great love for us. We see how God continues to do us good by sending his angels to care for us and smooth our way to him. And all of this can help us to draw closer to God during Advent and beyond.

Today we look at Daniel: Touched by an Angel. Gabriel is a messenger—all angels are. This is what the word for angel means in both Hebrew and Greek. His first assignment is to a man you’ll sympathise with if you’ve ever felt worried about your future or the fate of the world.

Essentially, the message that Gabriel brings Daniel is the one we need ourselves as we face turmoil in our own day: History is not a haphazard series of events. Whatever the dark headlines—terrorist attacks, natural disasters, economic upheavals—we’re in the hands of a loving and all-powerful God. Earthly regimes will rise and fall, and good people will suffer. But this is sure: At an hour no one knows, God will bring evil to an end and establish his eternal kingdom.

Daniel couldn’t foresee just how God’s kingdom would break into the world. But with the gifts that Gabriel brought him, he could live in peace and patient endurance, with a secure hope for the future. “Fear not, beloved,” Gabriel assured him, “you are safe. Take courage and be strong” (Daniel 10:19).

Christ the Lord, Son of the living God, light from light,

leads us into the light and reveals his holiness.

With confidence, let us make our prayer:

Come, Lord Jesus!

Light that never fades, dispel the mists about us,

awaken our faith from sleep.

Guard us from all harm today,

may your glory fill us with joy.

Give us unfailing gentleness at all times,

toward everyone we meet.

Come to create a new earth for us,

where there will be justice and peace.