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29th Sep 2022

Feast of Archangels

READ: (Dan 7: 9-10, 13-14; Jn 1: 47-51)

REFLECT:

Dear friends, today we celebrate the feast of Archangels. Before we could get to know about the archangels, let us see who are the angels and their character features and functions, which will help us understand better about archangels and their function in the history of salvation initiated by God. The word angel comes from the Greek word, which means messenger.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church (nos. 328-336 and 350-351) says, “The angels are purely spiritual creatures, incorporeal, invisible, immortal and personal beings endowed with intelligence and will. They ceaselessly contemplate God face-to-face and they glorify him. They serve him and are his messengers in the accomplishment of his saving mission to all. The church joins with the angels in adoring God, invokes their assistance and commemorates some in her liturgy.”

The angels are supernatural beings and are closely linked with the work of God himself. The encounter of the human beings with an angel is an encounter with the divine. Angels are the agents of God. Their primary activities are praise and worship of God in the heavenly court. They make announcements and give messages on behalf of God to human beings. They intervene in the lives of the people, guide and protect them.

Among the angels there is a kind of ranking of their powers and they are categorized in order as archangels, angels, seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominations, principalities, powers and virtues. The archangel would mean the chief angels and the first in the order of angels. The three archangels occupy the highest domain of this angelic hierarchy and their duties are higher and indeed more important. Their own names suggest their roles and nature. The three Archangels namely Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are the angels named in Sacred Scripture and all three have important roles in the history of salvation. So based on the reading and the feast day celebration, I would like to share with you three points of reflection on the names of Archangels;

1.     St. Michael:

The name of the archangel Michael in Hebrew would mean, who is like God? He is known as the prince of the heavenly host. He is generally pictured as a strong warrior, dressed in armor and wearing sandals. His name appears in the bible four times, twice in the Book of Daniel (Dan 10: 13, 21; 12:1) and once each in the letter of St. Jude (1:9) and the Book of Revelation (12: 7-12). In the book of Daniel we get a message that leading angel would be the protector of the people of God; in the letter of Jude we get to know that there is a fight between angel Michael and devil over the dead body of Moses. Here there is no question of Archangel Michael insulting the devil. The point is rather that Michael, who was the advocate and not the judge, did not take it on himself to reject the devil’s accusation as malicious slander; instead he appealed to the Lord’s judgment. So the judgment is left to God alone and it is acknowledged by Archangel Michael.

In the book Revelation (12: 7-12) we learn that there is a battle in heaven with St. Michael and his angels war with dragon. Ultimately, the dragon or devil was defeated and lost their place in heaven. The biblical references to Archangel Michael gives us a glimpse that St. Michael is the protector and helper of each one who fights a battle against Satan in life in different forms and ways. The Christian tradition as well attributes four offices to St. Michael; to help us in our fight against Satan; to rescue souls from Satan, especially at the hour of death; to be the champion of the Jews in the Old Testament and now Christians; and to bring souls to judgment. So we implore the protection and helping hand of St. Michael the archangel to defend us from every evil and devil that prevents us from coming closer to God and be intimately united to God.

2.     St. Gabriel:

The name of the Archangel Gabriel in Hebrew would mean “God is my strength.” In the scripture we find Archangel Gabriel appearing as a messenger. The references of St. Gabriel we have it in the book of Daniel (8: 15, 16; 9:21) and in the Gospel of Luke (1: 11-19; 30-33). In the book of Daniel we find that the archangel Gabriel was sent to Daniel to explain a vision concerning the Messiah. In the Gospel of Luke, we find the role of Gabriel more important to sustain our faith in God. The angel appears to Zachariah when he was offering incense in the Temple, to foretell the birth of St. John the Baptist (Lk 1:11-19) and secondly the angel Gabriel is sent by God to be the messenger of the Annunciation about the incarnation, the word made flesh, Jesus Christ, the messiah (Lk 1: 30-33).

From the biblical reference we get a glimpse that the angel Gabriel is closer to God as the most important message and good news is communicated to the world through the angel Gabriel. So it is an invitation for all of us as well to proclaim the good news to all that would bring happiness and cheers on those faces who are sorrowful or sorrow-stricken, giving them the strength and consolation by God’s word and grace. We also are called to become an angel of God in the world to share God’s message and make known his love for us and thus become messengers of Good news to people in the world.

3. St. Raphael:

The name Archangel Raphael in Hebrew would mean “God’s healing.” We have the reference to angel Raphael in the book of Tobit (12:15).  The reference portrays the power and function of angel Raphael. The chapter 12 of the book of Tobit speaks of the good deeds of God through the angel of God. In the chapter we find angel Raphael accompanying Tobias the son of Tobit, giving him and his wife Sarah safety and security, cured the blindness of Tobit.

In the entire chapter of Tobit 12, we find angel Raphael time and again repeating the words “praise and thanks be uttered to God, because it is the great deeds of God.” We see here angel Raphael as a healer, accompanying traveler and a channel of God’s power overflowing to all who call upon God in faith. Today, we also need to acknowledge the great works of God in our lives in different situation and through different persons. We can also bring healing in the lives of the people if we utter words of encouragement, appreciation, acknowledgement and forgiveness. We need to accompany people those who suffer and are in discomfort, giving them healing and cure.

The first reading from the book of Daniel presents to us the beatific vision of the heavenly court where God is present and the angels serving and singing the praises of God and in the gospel reading of John, Jesus assures Nathanael that he will see greater things and will as well see the heavens opened, the angels of God ascending and descending. It gives us a glimpse about heaven and the presence of angels. We are called in a way like angels to give praise and thanks to God at all times, to experience the powerful presence of God and make our living on earth as heaven by God’s grace and blessings.

So on the feast day of Archangels, let us contemplate on God, communicate his will to all by life, be a source of help and support and be a channel of God’s grace to all in the world. May the Archangel Michael bless us with the grace to battle against all evils and evil forces. May the Archangel Gabriel give us the strength to proclaim good news to all and be God’s messengers. May the Archangel Raphael give us the healing power to heal the wounds of our weaknesses and human frailty and accompany those who suffer and are in need of consolation.

RESPOND:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (no. 328) teaches us that, the existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls “angels” is a truth of faith.

Do we believe in Angels?  Can we be defenders of evil in the world?

Can we be a source of strength and giver of good news to people those who meet us daily?

Can we bring about healing in the world by words of love and Forgiveness?

Let us pray for the grace to defend against evil, to give good news to people and bring healing to people by our words and deeds. Amen.

“In this our Angel Guardians follow His example, and although we may forsake God by our iniquities, they will not forsake us as long as there is breath in our body, even though we may have fallen into sin. Do you want better examples for regulating your conduct? (Spirit of SFS, All for Love of God, from spoonful of Honey - III by Fr. Suresh Babu, p. 58)

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