THE ARCHANGELS IN THE HISTORY OF HUMANITY (HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE ARCHANGELS MICHAEL, GABRIEL AND RAPHAEL (SEPT 29)

Homily for the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (September 29)

Daniel  7:9-10,13-14. Psalm 138:1-2a,2bcd-3,4-5. John 1:47-51.

Today the Holy Mother Church celebrates the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. 

There exist Archangels and angels. Archangel means chief messenger while Angel means messenger. They are pure spirits or supernatural beings who possess supernatural powers. Day by day they behold the presence of God, praising and worshipping God in eternity. 

The first reading of today's celebration acknowledges this truth: "a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousands stood before him" (Dan.7:10). "His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignity which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed".

Michael means "Who is like God?" There is no one who can do what God can do. He is the archangel who defend God's friends against Satan and all his evil spirits. Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as "one of the chief princes", and as leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell (cf.Rev.12:7-9). He has been especially honoured and invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles.

Gabriel means "power of God". He is God's secretary. A secretary, in the original meaning of the word, is one to whom secrets are entrusted. There was a secret hidden in the heart of God from eternity. It was God's secret to repair sin through the sacrificial death of His Son. This secret is now entrusted to Archangel Gabriel, who in turn is to reveal it to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Finally, he announced to Mary that she would bear a Son who would be conceived of the Holy Spirit, Son of the Most High and the Saviour of the world (Luke 1:26). He was also the angel who appeared to Zechariah to announce the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:11).

Raphael means "the healing of God". He first appeared in the Book of Tobit. He acts as a guide to young Tobias on his journey to Rages, a city in the country of the Medes, east of Nineveh, to collect a debt owed his father. He binds the demon Asmodeus, helped Tobias to find a wife, recovered the debt, heals Tobit from his blindness. He then reveals his identity. "I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of the  Lord" (Tob.12:14-15).

The Old and New testament acknowledges the role and existence of angels and archangels in human history Gen 16:7, Gen 28:13,Ex 3:2, Lk 2:9, MTT 28:5, JN 1:51, Acts 12:7 etc. Hence the preface of the eucharistic prayers references the praise and thanksgiving to God for the presence of Angels and Archangels in human history.

From the inception of time, the angels are called to know God and love him above all things. This love is an act of free will which brings the possibility of choice for or against God. 

Subjected to a test of moral character as scripture speaks of the sin of some angels who radically and irrevocably rejected God and his reign, therefore became evil by their doings.  The reflection of that rebellion is also found in the tempter's words to our first parents: "you will be like God". Satan became their 

The good angels chose God as the supreme and definitive Good, while the others turned their back irrevocably on God. Instead of accepting a full love of God, they rejected him.

Dearest brother and sister in Christ, Scripture warns us : "Your adversary the devil prowls round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand up to him, strong in faith" (1Peter5:8-9). The devil is alive and very much at work in the world. Their aim is to wreck God's work of salvation in us. They temp us and deceive us. Thus, we must be vigilant and in communion with God at all times. 

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus having acknowledged Nathaniel's purity of heart as a man with guile nor deciet. He went ahead and said to Nathanael: "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man" (John 1:51). 

Friends in Christ, like Nathaniel we can aspire towards the purity of heart. The sacrament of penance provides us the opportunity to submit ourselves in humility to the throne of God's mercy and ask the he cleanse us of our guilts and grant us holiness and righteousness. That our lives may become a home for divine activities, where 

Beloved in Christ, the Archangels in fidelity constantly  behold the presence of God. Let us ask for their intercession to help us to be faithful to God. May they teach us to choose God. Divine realities seem so far from us. May they grant us fervour in prayer, a taste for meditation and perseverance in the service of the Lord till the end of our life, through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Happy Feast day to you all

Fr Remi osj