Terry Paul
Choyce
Oct. 30, 2005, Brunswick Street United Church
This Monday is Halloween, and on Tuesday it is All Saints Day. In Mexico All
Saints Day is a huge holiday, where they honour the dead, and they say the
souls of the dead return to visit their loved ones at this time. We all know
that ghosts come and haunt us at Halloween, as well as other entities we don't
often think about such as ghouls, goblins, fairies, and witches. So, my
question is, do these things materialize just once a year, or are they with us
all the time? Do we even half believe in these creatures, or are they just for
fun? As Christians, what should we believe?
If you take the Bible literally, you must believe in angels, demons, dragons,
and the Devil. They are all mentioned many times in all parts of the Bible. The
book of Revelations is full of references to them. Let me read you Rev. 12: 1
-9.
That is some pretty strange stuff. Most theologians say John wrote
symbolically. I have to admit that I steer clear of the book of Revelations
because I don't understand it at all, and quite frankly, it scares me. There is
a whole lot of death and suffering and destruction happening in the future if
we believe what John says.
Jesus cast out many demons when he was healing people. Again, is this
symbolism, or are there evil spirits that take over people and cause them to be
ill or crazy? In today's reading from Mark (9:17-29) Jesus ordered the evil
spirit to leave the boy who had fits, or what we would probably call today,
epileptic seizures. The spirit screamed, threw the boy into a fit, and then
came out, leaving the boy to look like he was dead. Jesus raised the boy up and
said only prayer can drive out this kind of spirit. Does this mean we could
heal others, and ourselves through prayer? I think we can. But what about the
concept that demons, or evil spirits cause illness?
I have been reading books by two writers who are experts in spirits and angels.
Ben Willemsen, who lives near St. Margaret's Bay, and Doreen Virtue, who has
made millions with her angel books and materials, both say there are souls who
do not go on to the next dimension, and who are trapped here as ghosts, or
tormented souls. And they say some of these souls attach themselves to people,
and create much havoc and illness in people. Ben and Doreen both claim they
have the ability to release these unfortunate souls into the after-life, where
they belong. They say the spirits are here because they died unexpectedly from
an accident, or because they committed suicide, or because they were so
attached to loved ones they refused to leave them, or because they were so
afraid of God because of the rotten lives they lived, that they refused to
enter the tunnel of light that welcomes us when we die. Both Ben and Doreen
strongly differentiate between these spirits and angels. They say angels were
never in human form. They are God's messengers and helpers.
Angels appear throughout the Bible. I do believe in angels. I believe there
are divine beings who exist in a dimension parallel to ours, and they try to
help us whenever we are open to their presence. Angels are so prevalent in
Christianity, and in almost every religion, that most people on this planet
believe in them to some extent. Images of angels are similar in every culture
and time period as well. If you go to see the Ancient Mediterranean exhibit
that is on at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia right now, you will see two
artifacts that date about 600 BC, that have babies with wings on them that look
like the cherubim painted during the Renaissance, over a thousand years later.
People today report seeing, and communicating with angels all the time. Just
because most of us don't see them, doesn't mean they don't exist.
I would like to read some excerpts to you from the book The Angel Oracle by
Ambika Wauters. She says "Angels have been our link with the Divine Source -
the ultimate Origin of all creation- since the beginning of our search in to
the mysteries of life and the nature of our existence. They are also an aspect
of our relationship with the Source representing the total intention of
goodness, purity and light......The angels offer us the opportunity to love our
Selves. They bring us to the very essence of our lives by teaching us that when
we love ourselves we follow our highest truth. They help us to mature into
responsible and loving people who can live from a place of serenity and peace.
They assist us in finding who we really are in the depths of our being, as well
as how to live as creative, whole people...The love of the angels and the joy
of pure being are waiting for you."
I feel comforted knowing there are angels to help guide and protect me. I feel
honoured that God loves people so much that he has allowed his heavenly hosts
to be with us. As a result of all my recent reading and talking to people about
this topic, I have decided to spend more of my life thinking about, and being
open to my angels. If God has given us this gift, I think it is a shame not to
appreciate it and use it.
But what about elves, demons, and other entities we normally don't see? They
are mysteries to me. I will not deny their existence, but I'm not seeking them
out either. I do think there is more to the universe than what we can perceive
with our usual 5 senses. God has created so much, perhaps he created them too.
There is more to this world and this life than I can ever understand. But I do
know about love. And that is what I want to concentrate on. Love of God, love
of people, and yes, love of angels. Now, if any of you see a fairy, let me
know. I want to love them too.
