Read Daniel 12:1-13

At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of you people, shall arise, There shall be a time of anguish. But at that time, you people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.

As winter approaches, the sky is darker and darker when my beagle gets me up for a walk every morning. Usually, many stars shine brightly in the predawn, giving me something to enjoy and praise God for even as I shiver in the rural cold.

But for a week recently, cloud cover hid the stars from view. I resented this especially because I wanted to see the pretty conjunction of the waning moon and the planet Mercury. Then I realized that whether or not I could see it, the great drama of the night sky would still go on. I don't have to see it to know it is happening.

Today's reading from Daniel seeks to reassure a persecuted people by reminding them--and us--of the truth that whether or not we can see it, great drama is going on that is every bit as real as the stars in the sky. The archangel Michael is described as "the protector of (God's) people." Because of this reality, we can rest assured that God's story is being played out, seen or unseen. Whether we realize it or not, God is at work.

God of the stars, protect us and deliver us, we pray. Amen.