51. July 13- Gabriel and the Bride

"Come with me angel, I have a special treat for you!" I recognized the Bride's voice, but still could not see Her.

"I can't see you, so how could I know where to go?" I replied a little too sarcastically.

The familiar tug then dragged me away. I had thought that the Bride was fixed to the earth, as a church building or a gathering of believers, but I found myself being pulled higher and higher through the air by the Voice.

If only the Bride had told me exactly where She wanted to go in heaven I'm sure that I could have taken Her there. We were traveling painfully slow. I even saw an airplane passing us. "Where are you taking me?" I asked telepathically, wondering if I could communicate with the Bride as I do my fellow angels.

Nothing.

Apparently I had no choice but to be patient and open minded and try to enjoy the slow ride through the sky that reminded me of walking from Persia to Bethlehem with the wise men.

Eventually, we landed. I was glad to be in heaven and looked around for my friends. Then it occurred to me that God might be angry with me for showing up again before the year was over, so I tried to find a place to hide and prepare my defense for when He found me. 'I was kidnapped, dragged by His Bride, not given a chance to object.' Then I wondered if God loved the Bride enough not to be angry that She brought me here.

Those petty thoughts vanished when I peaked out from my hiding place to see people all about joking and laughing, performing and watching. The familiar tug took me over to where Seraphim and Cherubim were dancing a ballet accompanied by an orchestra of saints. I had never before seen heaven so festive. It was literally glistening with a holy hierarchy of happy angels. Even the Thrones had emerged from God's throne room which almost never happens!

In the audience of the ballet I spotted the Virgin Mary as young and beautiful as can be in her best blue gown, smiling and chatting away with a saint on her left and an angel on her right.

My curious scanning eyes soon spotted Jesus. I tried to hide behind big Moses so He wouldn't see me, but that didn't work. Jesus meandered through the audience and came straight over to me. "Don't worry," He shouted above the din of merriment. "I know you are here. It's okay. My Bride told me that She invited you, just don't stay too long."

I smiled sheepishly and said, "Thanks Jesus. What is going on?"

Jesus replied, "My Bride is celebrating the feast-day of Her close friend, the Archangel Gabriel now in mid-summer instead of on the day after the Annunciation because then everyone is usually fasting for Lent. This is some celebration, isn't it? Relax angel, enjoy, and then go back."

At that moment I heard a loud clash of symbols and a dozen trumpets hearkening the arrival of Gabriel. What a grand entrance he was making. Actually I thought it was over the top. I had never seen Gabriel so full of himself before. I had to admit though that he looked stunning, and more joyful than I had ever seen him. Gabriel spotted me in the crowd of admirers and came right over after the applause died down.

"Welcome to my party Angel. How nice of Them to let you out." he said in a jolly tone.

"Yeah," I agreed' "but it is only temporary." Then to change the subject from my exile I added, "Looks like you have bonded with the Bride, how nice for you. Doesn't it bother you that you can't see Her?"

"No," replied Gabriel. "I see her clearly in all Her children who make her up; can't you see that?"

I countered, "How can you see a being that is simultaneously one and millions, who is both human and divine, that flows through people and time like a river, but rests in buildings of every shape and size, both simple and ornate. I see nothing but Her buildings, but I hear Her speak to me. I admit that I have enjoyed the way She plays with time, but I think I liked Her better before She started speaking to me. Now I am perplexed by Her."

Gabriel tried to help me by responding, "Look, remember when you heard them say in the service that She is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic?"

"Yes." I replied.

"She isn't just in buildings, She is in the apostles, and they are in her, somewhat as Jesus is in the Father and the Father in Him. In fact, to the extent that Her child, any common person, reflects Christ She resides in that person, and all those Christ-like people who form Her. She organizes humanity to be Christ resurrected and alive on earth." Then he added, "Angel, this conversation is getting too serious for me. I've got to go mingle with my less cynical guests. Enjoy my party."

With that Gabriel whisked himself far away from me.

Abandoned for my inquisitiveness I felt awkward and decided that I should stop thinking and take advantage of this happiest of moments in heaven.

In the midst of an awesome light show by the stars, I floated into a dimly lit space where large monitors were streaming live videos of masses and liturgies in honor of The Archangel's feast day that were being celebrated all around the earth from Saint Peter's Cathedral in Rome to the Holy Trinity Cathedral of San Francisco. Crowds sat in front of each monitor that included people looking for their relatives still on earth who might be sitting in the pews, or in the choirs, or celebrating on the altar. Apparently, my old friend Gabriel was a lot more popular than I ever imagined. Good for him.

"Get ready to go." I heard Her say. "Hasn't this been a wonderful day!"

"Sure." I responded unconvincingly, "but why must we leave so soon?"

"I'm afraid that if I get too comfortable in my triumphant mode, I will lose strength for my militant mode, and I can't afford that, especially in these days."

"Okay, I understand. I'm ready." I said glumly.

As we were inching our way back down to earth, even slower than our ascent had been I wondered if the Bride just needed the relief of this celebration and she used Gabriel as a reason to rise above the complexities of Her somewhat sour situation on earth. Our slow speed was Her way of delaying our return. It's just a guess.