The Smallest Angel
Being the smallest angel was not an easy task. The other members of the Heavenly Host had a special name for her – ELF. It was supposed to be a short form of ETERNAL LIFE FORM but she had always felt that it was meant in a diminutive way. Elf had always longed to serve God in the Legion of Swords, an exciting service protecting frail humans in pivotal positions in the extension of the Kingdom, from the power of misguiding demons. Alas she was assigned the job of rescuing animals and small children form physical peril. It was rewarding work but lacked any true excitement. Today however was different! The Lord had summoned her for a special project that would be performed only once for a period of two years or more and she was the only candidate for the position. Now she felt really special.
Eros was brimming over with delight, his discovery although considered by his peers and father to be unremarkable was unique and he had never been more excited about anything. He was vigilant to research all the constellation maps cross checking them with the ancient printed ones in the archives for electronic over sights. The star he alone had discovered was not charted! The planet it was closest to had no technology of its own to detect such a phenomenon – it was in a primitive semi-nomatic state, some cities, with all major transportation restricted to crude wooden vessels that traversed natural waterways. Contact could be accomplished only by him making the journey by space travel. It had taken Eros what seemed like forever to convince his father to allow him to visit the planet and also the use of a small teleporter. His father was exasperated with his constant preoccupation with Star systems; Eros had a secure job waiting for him in the Transportation Centre with no less than three intergalactic portals in his particular assignment and the benefits were exceptional. Eros could receive as many free travel passes to the new world as he wished plus unlimited access to the virtual gym – able to create any simulated adventure his imagination could design. But no! He wanted to pilot his own craft the slow way without the ports, to this nothing planet; it would take almost a week instead of hours. His father finally relented, thinking that perhaps this “real journey” would allow Eros to get this foolishness out of his system.
When the Lord had finished explaining Elf’s assignment she was bewildered and a little disappointed. To move this new start at a constant speed, height and direction to the birth place of Jesus was certainly an honour but why her? The Great “I AM” explained that each Angel had been assigned their roles to Herald the birth of the long awaited Messiah and this was her appointed one. The celebration included announcing the Day Spring to Shepherds, Mary and Joseph and the other human participants in the fulfillment of the plan of salvation. The mortals involved needed protection from the demonic forces and Elf was to point the direction for the Magi to worship the Christ child. They would bring gifts that would symbolize his reign as Prophet, Priest and King. “No matter what happens, you must not waver from your task, you will point the way for mankind to the bridge of reconciliation; to their Creator and the three Kings will carry the message for foreign lands.” The assignments time frame would take almost to complete, certainly not an exciting or interesting assignment, how she longed to be a member of the Legion of Swords – but God was sovereign so contrary thoughts to his commands were unhelpful.
Eros had completed the final diagnostic on his ship and was ready to embark on his first solo research mission. His destination was the third planet in the Solar System in the Milky Way Galaxy. The new star that had only recently appeared was only a few miles above the planets atmosphere and was moving on a slow steady unwavering course. This planet had no moons this close to the surface or this small – it was an exciting discovery for him despite his fathers disapproval. Eros had quickly staked his claim to his findings, which was almost unnecessary as no challenge came from anyone in the scientific community. Immediately after his departure Eros began monitoring the star and continued to be confounded by the stars absence of any variation at all in speed, height and direction – how could anything be that constant? He had just descended through earths atmosphere and planned to keep a save distance behind the star to avoid a collision course and began to scan for data on the star. Eros instrumentation was continually correcting his ships flight path, to avoid impact but he kept getting closer! Something else unbelievable was happening – the bright object in front of him was registering NO MASS!
He was receiving energy readings and light readings but zero weight – how was that possible and how could he now avert an almost certain impact with, with this… non-object. Eros was surrounded in light, he closed his eyes and waited for the impending explosion.
Elf was completely confused. What was this piece of metal doing floating in mid air? Where did it come from and why was it headed directly for the star? Was this a test from God or had the demons broken through the Legion of Swords with a strange new weapon? “No matter what happens, do not fear, I am with you.” Those words from God returned to Elf, she closed her eyes and kept the star on its unwavering course.
Eros opened his eyes – he had passed through the star to the other side – unharmed. The ship was not as fortunate as he. The power in the propulsion system was draining away and he was descending to the planets surface quickly. He could guide his craft but was unable to regain altitude. He hit the ground hard and came quickly to a halt and sat in the silence, his heart sinking with absolutely no idea of what to do next.
The metal object had passed through the star without Elf having to use her shield to deflect it. Directly in line with the star miles ahead a portal was opening in the light emanating from it was the opening. Elf could now see demons, billowing upwards from the abyss like a black cloud, moving to close the breach but hopelessly out numbered by the Legion of Swords. They were completely and instantly crushed in a flash of light.
Eros could sit in the dark and continue to listen as the life blood of his ship drained away or make a plan. He scanned the area for life forms and downloaded all the data from their biological energy signatures and their outer protection. The replicator required little power to reproduce the garments that would allow him to blend in with the indigenous population.
When he had been fitted with the garment his appearance was simultaneously horrifying and humorous – he could not even dress for a joke party, on his planet, looking like this. The readout on the screen said SHEPHERDS ATTIRE and there was a group of them guarding SHEEP (whatever they were) a couple of miles away. After storing sufficient power for at least one distress call home he prepared the transporter to deliver him to the Shepherds camp. Before activating the device he injected a translator into his neck. The small chip would program itself with this planets language and alter the sound of his vocal cords so that he would be speaking fluently in a few minutes. In the next moment he was near a dim light that the other Shepherds were sitting by; Eros stood in the shadows until the translator had absorbed enough sound to generate a working vocabulary. “Who is there” said one of the Shepherds who appeared to be the leader. “Eros, I was sent from the village to help”. “Perhaps I am at the wrong camp” said Eros. “Come and warm yourself by the fire until we can help you find your way.” Just after Eros sat he noticed the light in the camp was growing brighter and it was not coming from the “fire”. He looked up and frozen in terror, screamed “The star is crashing down upon us!”
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. “And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward Men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us know go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Luke 2: 8-16
The parchment on his desk was crude and ancient in appearance and had come through the portals delivery system from the same planet Eros had travelled to. The written message his father read was brief:
FATHER, I HAVE FOUND THE KING – COME AND JOIN ME
With her assignment completed, Elf stood before the Lord awaiting his judgement and perhaps her next task. “You have served me well and I have a plan for you. A new prophet named John has been born and my best Warrior from the Legion of Swords has been sent as his protector. Your obedience to my command without wavering will allow you to take his place and your stature will be increased beyond that of any in your company. Before your sword nothing created will prevail and you will be my champion.