Angels, Truth, and Reconciliation

by Jacob Quast

September 29 is a special day in the life of the church. The day in which we celebrate St. Michael and All Angels. Michael, the archangel, is described in Scripture as a “chief prince” (Daniel 10:13) of the people of God, who contends with Satan (Revelation 12:7), to protect the church at God’s command. Angels are spiritual beings created by God to serve His church and worship before His throne in heaven (Matthew 18:10). This day provides the church with an opportunity to give thanks and praise to God for gifting His church with these heavenly beings who have served as His messengers to His people throughout the ages.

September 30 is a significant day in our secular calendar, as it has been set aside by our Canadian Government to focus on the important task of Truth and Reconciliation regarding the, sometimes, abhorrent treatment of the Indigenous and First Nations people across our land. Of course, as Lutherans, we always want to ask the question, “What does this mean?” Sadly, the broader church often had a hand in causing harm to our First Nations brothers and sisters. Thankfully, many have, by God’s grace, retained their Christian faith despite these things. However, there is an ongoing push towards First Nations people in Canada to rediscover and embrace their traditional religious practices, which are contrary to the Christian faith.

Deeper Connections

So, what do these two days have in common? Do they simply sit beside each other on our calendars? Is there a deeper connection we can make as Christians? While there is a shared belief between Christians and First Nation’s spirituality regarding a spiritual realm and spiritual beings, there is much more to be shared with our First Nations friends. Jesus notes that “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Therefore, the deeper and more proper connection to be made is that if there is to be true reconciliation between people who have been hurt by one another, then there is only one way to accomplish that—by pointing people to the same Lord and God whom the angels ever directed people—the Incarnate Lord Jesus Christ. He who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). For no one comes to the Father—no one comes to glory—apart from faith in Christ Jesus who shed His blood for the sins of the world.

Bloody Reconciliation

If we, Christians, desire to be a help and support to our First Nations friends . . . if we long to be reconciled to one another in spirit and in truth . . . if we want to truly deal with the sins of the past, then there is but ONE way—through Jesus. Through confession and absolution. Through repentant faith in Christ. Through reception of His gifts of mercy and love in Word and Sacrament. We repent of our sins of thought, word, and deed, and we direct all people (First Nations, Indigenous, African, Asian, American, Canadian etc.) to do the same. We direct all people to the crucified and risen Lord Jesus who took all the hurt, all the suffering, all of our sin and unrighteousness into His own flesh, and then suffered and died for it on the cross to provide forgiveness, healing, joy, and peace. First and foremost, the blood of Jesus provides reconciliation between sinners and God, but it also provides the only way for human beings to be truly reconciled with each other. And so, we give constant thanks and praise to the One who breaks the darkness and sets us free to live in the light of His love—all by His blood and sacrifice. Through faith in Jesus and His blood, we are united in Truth, and Reconciled with Him and one another. God be praised!

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