Angels We've Ignored on High

In Luke's Gospel, angels play an essential role in the opening birth narratives, and this brings up some provocative notions for us in the West. To better understand the Christmas narrative in Luke's gospel, we are asking questions like: Did Zachariah believe in angels before he saw one? What it matter to you if he had? Many people in our Western world deny the existence of angels and demons and anything non-material. Can we believe in these sensational stories? How does Luke expect us to receive these stories? Was this type of "supernatural" story unique in Luke's day? And how did this, seemingly, unusual event change Zachariah in Luke's gospel? And finally, does this story still have the power to change us today?