In the Bible, the barest of descriptions is given to the angels Michael and Gabriel. The Apostle John speaks briefly of Michael who with his band casts the red dragon out of heaven in a show of victory over evil (see Rev. 12:3–9). Gabriel is mentioned as the angel who comes to Mary with the clear and powerful message that she will be the mother of the Messiah (see Luke 1:26–38).
But Mary Baker Eddy gives deeper meaning to these two angels in her book, Science and Health. In a show of action, Michael, she says, possesses “spiritual strength,” wrestling and prevailing over “the power of sin.” Gabriel, on the other hand, imparts a sense of Love’s ever presence. “The Gabriel of His presence has no contests” (see pp. 566–567). In what appears to be a correlation to God’s nature, Mrs. Eddy equates the angelic qualities of Michael and Gabriel to Truth and Love, the infinite and tender presence that simply dissolves all that is unlike it.
A deeper understanding of these angel thoughts brought me healing more than 20 years ago. At the time, I was serving as Second Reader for my church—a job in which I read the Bible aloud to the congregation every Sunday. And I truly loved it. But about halfway through my term, my husband and I separated and I became ill. I was unable to continue as Reader and resigned from the position, and even stopped attending church. By the time we divorced, I was looking for comfort—albeit unsuccessfully—in another unhappy relationship. The underlying problem was that I was sure that “good” Christian Scientists didn’t get divorced and they surely didn’t resign from the Reader’s post. My only option, or so it seemed at the time, was to sever all ties.
