Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael,
Archangels
September 29, 2014 6:30am
Today, we celebrate the feast of
Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels.
An Archangel is apparently the
highest of the angels.
Michael’s role was as a protector
against evil.
The Old Testament tells us that
Michael expels Satan from heaven and enables the reign of God to begin there.
That reign has not yet fully arrived
here on earth, but even today’s gospel assures us of the presence of God’s
angels to enable the light and life of God to be present.
Maybe we experience Archangels
like Michael in the assistance of spiritual advisors or good friends who
strengthen us to do good and avoid evil.
Gabriel was God’s messenger.
He announced the birth of John
the Baptist to Zechariah and the birth of Jesus to Mary.
Gabriel reminds us that there are
still messengers from God in our lives.
Today our Gabriels may look like
a parent, a teacher, a spouse, a counselor, or a priest.
Finally, Raphael turns up in the
Old Testament Book of Tobit.
Raphael takes care of Tobit’s son
Tobias.
He guides Tobias on a journey.
He expels some demons and even
leads Tobias into a lovely marriage.
Raphael is most often seen today
in all that parents do to raise their children and bring them to adulthood and
happiness.
Raphael, in the Book of Tobit,
gives some parting words to Tobias and his wife that tell us the real function
and identity of angels and archangels.
I conclude with these and they
make a good reflection for us today.
Raphael says: “When I was with
you, I was not acting on my own, but by the will of God.
“Bless him each and every
day.”
