Day 14 - Attending angels

Anyone journeying on the A1M through Gateshead will have seen Anthony Gormley’s iconic weather resistant Cor-ten steel structure, The Angel of the North. With its wide encompassing, almost embracing arms (wings) it is a striking structure one cannot fail to be astonished by.

When our girls were young children, The Angel of the North was a landmark that punctuated our journey north to memorable family holidays in Northumberland. We would keep the girls distracted from their moans, “When are we going to get there?” by competing to see who could spot The Angel first. We knew then that we were nearing our destination. We broke our journey one year to visit The Angel and view it up close. We marvelled at its strong steel feet, concrete base (with piles extending 20 metres below ground), 20 metre height and wingspan of 54 metres.

The Angel of the North was commissioned by Gateshead Council and their brief was simple – to create a sculpture that would reflect the character of the region – a former mining community. It was completed in 1998 and is seen by more than one person every second on their journeys north and south.

We tend to think about Angels during Advent when we hear about the Angel Gabriel visiting Mary announcing that she would give birth to the Son of God. Angels also came amongst the shepherds, and, again, an Angel visited Joseph as he anguished over his relationship with Mary. However, during this period of Lent, we read in Mathew’s Gospel that during Jesus’s trial and temptation in the wilderness, Angels administered to him – in other words to provide for his needs.

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:11

This was a challenging time for Jesus and he needed more than just the Holy Spirit to provide care and protect him. He was vulnerable and physically weak but able (through the power of the Holy Spirit) to stand firm and resist Satan’s temptations on numerous occasions, including when Satan quoted this scripture from Psalm 91 in a fruitless attempt to persuade Jesus to put God to the test.

He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. - Psalm 91:11,12.

At times, we too require additional support and care. How often do we say or have heard that an individual was “an angel in disguise” when help and support has been forthcoming at the right time or described someone as “you’re an angel” when they have done something particularly thoughtful and kind to help us. God knows our needs even before we know ourselves and help is provided at the right time not necessarily in the way we would expect.

For me, The Angel of the North represents strength, resistance and protection for all, regardless of faith or belief – it was constructed to withstand 100mph winds after all! Who knows how many journeying people passing The Angel of the North may have been comforted or felt a sense of peace at just the right time in their lives. For some, such an encounter may have led them to seek God for the first time.

People’s perception, interpretation and even experience of Angels differs considerably dependant on culture. Let us turn to another interpretation of an Angel. The Peacock Feathered Angel was created by the Art group in the village of Flore, Northamptonshire and displayed alongside other angels at a festival in the parish Church just before Christmas last year. I was not only struck by creativity involved but also by the interpretation.

The feathered wings were popular in the art of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in both Italy and Northern Europe. The Peacock symbolises immortality and the resurrection as its flesh is said not to decay. The ‘eyes’ of the feathers represent God’s all-seeing eye. In addition, the Peacock was seen as a symbol of royalty and thus in context, represented the King of Heaven. In other words, all the themes of Lent, looking beyond the wilderness and the pain of holy week to the glorious resurrection of Jesus, King of Kings.

Cathryn Clarke