Angels fill the Scriptures in both the Old Testament and the New. God’s holy messengers also hold a special place of importance during the Advent and Christmas seasons because of their presence in preparing for the soon-to-appear Messiah.
Just scanning the readings for Advent, one finds angels providing pivotal roles leading up to the great celebration of Christmas. Sometimes, we get so used to hearing the stories that we miss the roles that angels played in each of them. Here are three examples from the readings for Advent (and two bonus examples) to help you prepare for the birth of the Messiah this Christmas!
3 Angels at Advent
The Annunciation
Even though we read from Luke 1:26–38 in many places throughout the Church year, it is also an important focus during Advent as the preparation for the Messiah becomes imminent. Every Year B cycle for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the last Sunday before Christmas, includes the story of St. Gabriel appearing to Mary. Here, Gabriel invites Mary to participate in God’s plan. This story is part of one of the most famous prayers in Christianity, the “Hail Mary.” You also find it in the popular “Angelus” prayer.
The Prophecy of St. John the Baptist
Many Christians know of St. Gabriel’s appearance to Mary announcing the birth of Jesus. Less might remember his words to St. Zechariah to announce another famous birth. Every Thursday of the Third Week of Advent in Year C brings us the story from Luke 1:5-25. This tells us of St. Zechariah serving in the Temple as a priest and St. Gabriel appearing to tell him he and his elderly wife, St. Elizabeth, would bear a son who would prepare the way for the Messiah.
The Dream of St. Joseph
This Advent begins a new cycle in the liturgical calendar as we go back to the Year A readings. The Fourth Sunday of Advent Gospel reading from Matthew 1:18–25 shows us what happens after the Annunciation. St. Joseph, still unsure of how to respond to this news, sleeps restlessly. It is in his sleep that “an angel of the Lord” (many traditions believe it also to be St. Gabriel) appears to him to instruct him to take Mary as his wife and to name the baby, Jesus.
Two Bonus Appearances of Angels
The Announcement to the Shepherds
This famous story with angels from Luke 2:1-14 is technically not an Advent reading. We read it every year at the Christmas Masses at night and dawn. This is one of the most repeated Bible verses in history as this scene is the inspiration for the Gloria that we sing at Mass every Sunday (…except for the Sundays of Advent and Lent).
Psalm 103
Finally, this other “Bonus” appearance is found on the second Wednesday of Advent. On this day, we hear from Psalm 103. This Psalm includes a reference to angels, verses 20–21 say “Bless the LORD, all you his angels…” However, this verse is not used in the actual mass reading. The entire Psalm is a great way to prepare with God’s angels for his gift on Christmas!
As you can see, the angels are not only all over the Bible, but all over Advent! As you pray this Advent season, invite the angels to pray with you! They are preparing and celebrating the great gift of the birth of Jesus. They were at the first Christmas and will be celebrating with us forever in heaven!