29th September 2021
FEAST OF ARCHANGELS STS. MICHAEL, GABRIEL AND
RAPHAEL
YOU ARE AN ANGEL
Dan 7: 9‐10, 13‐14 or Rev 12: 7‐12;
Ps 138: 1‐5;
Jn 1: 47‐51
Have you ever said to someone (or has anyone said to you):
“You’re an angel?” What did that mean to you? Most people
take it to mean that the person is angelic in that they are doing
or saying good things for another. Angels, technically, are
purely spiritual beings who proclaim God’s praise and bring
God’s message to others. Obviously, humans are not angels,
but we can be “angelic” (or angel‐like) if we join in the singing
of God’s glory and help bring to others the Good News of
God’s love.
Today’s readings are chosen for the Feast of the Archangels
(Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel). Daniel’s vision of heaven
focuses on the Ancient One (God – Father) and the Son of Man
(God the Son). It is only later in Daniel’s vision that the angel
Michael is mentioned. Michael is seen as the “messenger” of
God who does God’s will. Michael is described as the chief (or
“arch”) messenger; thus, he is an “archangel.”
The Gospel passage shows a link between Jesus and the
“Anointed One” of God Who comes with foreknowledge and
Who is ministered to by the angels‐ “messengers” of God.
Jesus’ being able to see Nathaniel and “know” him even before
Philip calls him is one link to the Messiah (“Anointed One” –
“Christ”) Who was promised in Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus also
forecasts that God’s messengers will tend to and serve the Son
of Man just as they minister to God in heaven.
Today we honour the three “messengers” who are given
names in Scriptures. The word “angel” comes from the Greek
word angelos (αγγελος) and means “messenger” or
“announcer.” Those who are the “chief” (Greek αρχ‐ arch‐)
messengers are the “archangels.” Michael is seen as the one
who battles against the demonic forces. The name “Michael”
is Hebrew for “One who is like God.” Gabriel is the messenger
who is sent to announce the birth of both John the Baptist and
Jesus. “Gabriel” means “Strength of God” in Hebrew.
Raphael is only mentioned in the Book of Tobit. As the name
“Raphael” means “Healed by God,” Raphael brings God’s
healing to the family of Tobit by healing Tobit of blindness,
uniting Tobias (Tobit’s son) with Sarah, and reuniting the
family of Tobit.
As I reflect on the supernatural beings whom we call angels, I
realize that their function is to serve God in whatever way the
Lord God intends. Part of the function of these “messengers”
is to announce and proclaim God’s glory, so that there is
constant praise and honour given to God. Sometimes, it
seems, God sends these “messengers” to humans to proclaim
special messages or to help in the struggle humans have
against the forces of the fallen “angels” led by Satan.
The most important thing for us is to realize that God is worthy
of praise, not just by the angels, but also by us and all others
who call upon the name of the Lord God. Linked to this is the
concept that God wants us to be informed of the divine love
and the heavenly care that is constantly flowing from God. If
God chooses to send “heavenly messengers” to us to reassure
us of this Good News, that is God’s prerogative. Our part is
that we must be open to God’s evangelizing to us and others
in whatever way God chooses. Obviously the most dramatic
and best Good News came in the person of Jesus. Yet
sometimes we miss the point of Jesus’ coming and we need to
be reminded of message of God’s love through other
“messengers.”
As we continue to grow in the understanding and
appreciation of how much God loves us, let us join the choirs
of angels in singing God’s praises, not just eventually in
heaven, but wherever we are. May we give God glory by
helping to further the announcement of the message of Good
News in our every action and word. Then truly we will be able
to echo the words of the psalmist today and say: “I will give
thanks to You, O LORD, with all my heart. . .in the presence
of the angels I will sing Your praise.”
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