The battles of Michael and Jesus
Reflection on a reading from today's Church of England Lectionary. 29 September 2021. Mark 14: 27 - 42.
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Michael and All Angels. Michael leads the army of angels which wins the victory for God in the war between good and evil. He is the protector of Israel and it is for God's people that the victory will be won. Hence he has been assumed by Christians as our protector, particularly at the hour of our death, although he is also revered in Judaism and Islam. In the Bible he is mentioned in Daniel, Jude and his victory against the army of Satan is described in Revelation 12. We know that Michael will win his victory but I want to continue today with Mark 14.
After the Passover meal Jesus takes the disciples out to the Mount of Olives and tells them that they will fall away but that after his resurrection he will meet them in Galilee. Peter protests that he will stay true, only for Jesus to tell him that in just a few hours Peter will deny three times that he knows him. They then went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus took Peter, James and John with him to pray but they fell asleep throughout the time of Jesus's greatest distress at what was about to happen. He prayed that he could be spared but still he would not leave or try to save himself. Eventually it was too late for escape as Jesus saw his betrayer arrive with the troops who would arrest him.
Jesus has now begun his greatest battle with the forces of evil. Michael's war and Jesus's battle will ultimately lead us to the same destination but for Jesus the ordeal has only just begun.