The Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are honored as saints...
Reflections on the readings for the Feast of Ss. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael (September 29, 2022): DN 7:9-10,13-14; PS 138:1-2,2-3,4-5; JN 1:47-51
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
They have served Almighty God by helping His people in unique ways.
The word Archangel come from the Greek words for chief and messenger. And that is exactly the role that the three saints we remember today have fulfilled. They each communicated significant messages of God’s love and hope to humankind. These archangels revealed God’s profound compassion for His people in important yet different ways that are expressed in their names. Michael means “Who is like God?” Gabriel is “Strength of God.” And Raphael means “God heals.” Michael is mentioned in both the Old And New Testament. He is the champion of God and the protector of His people from the power of the devil. Indeed, he is regarded as the leader of the Almighty’s forces against Satan. It was Gabriel who announced to Zachariah the coming birth of his son. St. John the Baptist would prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. Then Gabriel announced to the Blessed Virgin Mary that God has chosen her to become the mother of that Messiah -- Jesus Christ our Savior. Raphael appears in the Book of Tobit. There he provides guidance and healing for the devout but suffering family of Tobit.
In the Gospel reading today we hear about Jesus’ first meeting with Nathaniel, who is generally identified with the Apostle Bartholomew. He is so surprised when Jesus tells him He saw him under a fig tree that Nathaniel calls immediately honors Him by addressing our Lord as the Son of God. “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.’ And He said to him, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the son of Man’” (John 1:50-51). Angels were part of Christ’s life on earth from the Annunciation of His Incarnation to Mary through His Resurrection and Ascension into heaven. As our Redeemer offered Himself up and opened the gates of heaven for us, angels provided their adoring, comforting presence. In the eternal life to which God calls us, we will share the glory of heaven not only with our human family, but also with these celestial beings.
