Angels: The Manifestation of God's Presence

 Reflection on Today's Readings and Feast of Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, September 29th, 2020

Texts: Dan. 7:9-10.13-14; Ps. 138:1-5; John 1:47-51

Today we celebrate and honour three archangels, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. We praise God in his archangels, for God delights in them and the honour given to them goes to the surpassing glory of God and by their great dignity and splendour God shows how infinitely great he is (cf. Preface of the feast).

Assigning today's gospel reading for the feast of the archangels is an attempt to make us see the connection between our faith in Jesus and the service of the angels. After Nathaniel's profession of faith in Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." Those words remind us of the dream of Jacob in which he saw a ladder upon which angels were  going up and down (Gen. 28:12). In this case it is no longer a ladder but Jesus Christ. The gospel reading shows that our faith in Jesus Christ earns us the service of the angels. Our faith in Jesus Christ becomes a medium by which we obtain blessings from the angels and enjoy their services.

Pope St. Gregory the Great says, "Angels are known by proper names as well, to indicate their powers and their work. ..... But when angels come to minister to us, even the names by which we know them are taken from their ministry - Michael means 'Who is like God', Gabriel 'Strength of God, Raphael, 'Healing of God.' As we celebrate the feast of the archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, today, we are reminded that our faith in Jesus Christ has earned us the service of St. Michael who helps us to fight the battle of our lives, he fights with us against the Devil and his angels (Rev. 12:7-12); the service of St. Gabriel who has come as the strength of God and announced to us the  armor of God with which we fight the spiritual powers of the air (Eph. 6:10-20); the service of St. Raphael who brings God's healing to us, he removes our blindness and infirmity of body and soul, he delivers us from the power of sin and evil spirits (Tobit 6:16-18;11:7,10-14).

The first reading tells us of a thousand thousands who serve God; they are the angels of God. Part of their service to God is to minister to us; they serve God in us and in their service to us we  witness God's presence in our lives. In the service of the archangels, we will realize that no one is like God, we witness God's strength and healing. In all we witness God's love in the service of his angels. Let us also imitate them by serving God in our neighbours and in our care for his creation.

Lord our God, we thank you for the numerous services your angels always offer to us every moment of our lives; help us to always appreciate them by living rightly and just. Amen.

Rev. Fr. Andrew Olowomuke