Christmas is a time to reach out to family and friends with messages of love and friendship and of course to celebrate and marvel at the many wonders of that first holy night.

Heavenly angels, messengers and guardian angels, are mentioned throughout the scriptures but especially so in the story of the Nativity. They are spiritual beings created by God to serve him, and sent by God to watch over the human race, to deliver his message and to guard and protect us from danger. 

This year the Bahamas Post Office has released a set of 6 Christmas stamps illustrating Christmas Angels watching over familiar scenes from the Nativity Story. It’s very appropriate that the topic of Angels and the Nativity should be chosen for the 2011 Christmas issue on this, the 400th Anniversary of the publication of the King James translation of the Bible; which is said to have been the most widely read version of the Bible ever produced in the English language.

The 15c stamp depicts Mary whose life was so radically change after she was visited by the Angel Gabriel. In a brief few moments Mary, a young girl from a small village in Galilee and betrothed to a humble carpenter (with noble ancestors), learns that she is to bear a child who is to become the long awaited Messiah. Throughout the Old Testament such a divine calling generally entailed great sacrifices, yet Luke tells us that Mary responds ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word’ (Luke 1:38).

25c stamp:  An angel watches over Mary and Joseph as they journey to Bethlehem.

50c stamp: An angel watches over and guides the Wise Men as the star leads them towards the stable in Bethlehem.

65c stamp: An angel watches over the infant Jesus as he lies in the stable in his manger.

70c stamp: An Angel appears to the Shepherds, bringing them tidings of great joy.

80c stamp: An Angel watches over Mary as she cradles her new son.

published October 20th, 2011