Weekly Meditation – December 8, 2025
by Rev. Cheri Dennis
The Holiday Meditation this week is provided by the Rev. Cheri Dennis. Cheri Dennis is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ currently serving as pastor of Lihue Christian Church on Kaua’i Island. Cheri is currently serving as the chair of the Justice and Witness Missional Team for the Hawai’i Conference United Church of Christ. Being a pastor is her third career after 10 years as a medical secretary and 30 years as an accountant. She is a native of North Carolina who is finding life on Kaua’i a wonderful experience. The diversity of the people of Hawai’i and the flora and fauna of the islands is a beautiful tapestry of creation woven by God.
The Angels of Christmas
Who are “The Angels of Christmas”? Let’s see. There’s the angel Gabriel who delivered a message of hope to Elizabeth & Zechariah that they would have a son in their old age, one who would prepare the way of the Lord (Luke 1:5-25).
The angel Gabriel also told Mary that she would have a son, the Son of God who would “scatter the proud, bring down the powerful, lift up the lowly, fill the hungry, and send the rich away empty” (Luke 1:26-56).
Then we have the Angel of the Lord who delivered not one but three messages to Joseph; that he should marry Mary (Matt 1:20-25), that he should take his family should flee to Egypt because their lives were in danger (Matt 2:13-15), and that it was safe to come back to Nazareth (Matt 2:19-23).
And who can forget the Angel of the Lord who, along with a multitude of heavenly hosts, appeared to the shepherds saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors.” (Luke 2:8-20)
The messages the angels brought to the shepherds and to a weary world were ones of hope, peace, joy, and love.
I’ve probably read these stories hundreds of times over the years. This time, however, I was struck by the fact that none of the stories describe the angels as having wings, let alone flying!
They also don’t have halos! In fact, they take human form. And rather than flying in the sky, they are often described as standing before the recipient of their messages. I wonder, if angels come in human form, do we recognize the angels standing before us? Are there angels in our lives who stand in front of us with messages from God? Do we hear them?
On the other hand, I also wonder, since I’m a human in human form, am I to be someone’s angel? Should I be an angel with a message from God? A message of hope, peace, joy, and love?
For we know that these are the words humanity needs to hear now. These are also the words you and I need to hear as we continue to work for justice and equity in our world. Jesus came to bring peace to the world, peace through loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. And we are called to continue this work.
May you be encouraged by angels in continuing the work of justice and peace. And may you be an angel of God for someone else as you continue God’s work of bringing peace and peace to this world.
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2 (NRSV)
