HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF STS MICHAEL, GABRIEL AND RAPHAEL DE ARCHANGELS

 HOMILY FOR 29 SEPTEMBER 2022, FEAST OF SAINTS MICHAEL, GABRIEL AND RAPHAEL, DE ARCHANGELS  

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14  or  Revelation 12:7-12ab; Psalm 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 4-5; John 1:47-51

WORSHIPPING GOD IN THE MIDST OF HIS ANGELS

I pray for you: May you continue to join the heavenly choirs in singing the praise and glory of God. AMEN

Have you ever said to someone (or has anyone said to you):  You are an angel.  What does that mean to you? Most people take it to mean that the person is angelic in that they are doing or saying good things for another. Angels, technically, are purely spiritual beings who proclaim the praise of God and bring the message of God to others. Obviously, humans are not angels, but we can be angelic (or angel-like) if we join in the singing of the glory of God and help bring to others the Good News of Divine love.

The readings of today are chosen for the feast of the Archangels (Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel).  The first of the two choices of the First Reading from the book of Daniel is part of the heavenly vision of Daniel. Later in the vision of Daniel (Daniel 10:13), Michael, the chief prince, is mentioned. The alternate First Reading from the Book of Apocalypse (Revelation) is also a heavenly vision.  In this passage Michael and the other Good Angels fought against Satan and cast him and the rest of the rebellious heavenly beings out of heaven. The vision of Daniel about heaven focuses on the Ancient One (our God, who is the Abba Father) and the Son of Man (who is God the Son).  It is only later in the vision of Daniel that the angel Michael is mentioned. Michael is seen as the messenger of God who does the will of God. Michael is described as the chief (or arch) messenger (or angel), thus he is an archangel.

Similarly, in the book of Revelation, Michael is the leader (first, arch) of the angels. He is pictured as leading the heavenly forces in a battle against Satan and the other rebellious spiritual beings. With the help of God, Michael and the angels expel Satan and his company out of heaven. The result of this angelic battle is that God and His Anointed One (Christ) receive the praise and glory that rightfully belongs to the Godhead without the disobedient cries from the opposition.

The psalm is a hymn of praise that is sung in the presence of the angels. It praises God in the Holy Temple. The psalmist joins the choirs of angels who constantly sing the glory of God.  Part of the roles or duries of the messengers of God is to give God unending praise and thanks. This function is done not only in heaven but wherever the presence of God is manifested, both in the Temple and other places.

Jesus, in the Gospel, pictures the angels of God surrounding the Son of Man. The Gospel passage shows a link between Jesus and the Anointed One of God who comes with foreknowledge and who is ministered to by the angels of God. The ability of Jesus to see Nathanael and know him even before Philip calls him is one link to the Messiah (the Anointed One, the Christ) who was promised in Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus also forecasts that the messengers of God (angels) will tend to and serve the Son of Man just as they minister to God in heaven.

Dearly beloved in Christ, today we honor the three messengers who are given names in Scriptures. The word angel comes from the Greek word angelos (αγγελος) and means “messenger” or “announcer.” Those who are the “chief” (Greek αρχ - arch) messengers are the “archangels.” Michael is seen as the one who battles against the demonic forces. The name “Michael” is Hebrew for “One who is like God.” Gabriel is the messenger who is sent to announce the birth of both John the Baptist and Jesus. Gabriel means Strength of God in Hebrew. Raphael is only mentioned in the Book of Tobit. As the name Raphael means Healed by God, Raphael brings the healing of God to the family of Tobit by healing Tobit of blindness, uniting Tobias (the son of Tobit) with Sarah, and reuniting the family of Tobit.

My Sisters and Brothers, the function of the Angels is to serve God in whatever way the Lord God intends. Part of the function of these messengers is to announce and proclaim the glory of God, so that there is constant praise and honor given to God. Sometimes, it seems, God sends these messengers to humans to proclaim special messages or to help in the struggle humans have against the forces of the fallen angels led by Satan.  The feast of today and readings make me to realize that God is worthy of praise, not just by the angels, but also by me and all others who call upon the name of the Lord God.  Also, God wants us to be informed of the divine love and the heavenly care that is constantly flowing from God. If God chooses to send heavenly messengers to us to reassure us of this Good News, that is the prerogative of God. My role is that I must be open to the message of God in whatever way he chooses.  Obviously the most dramatic and best Good News has come in the person of Jesus. Yet sometimes we miss the point of the coming of Jesus Christ and we need to be reminded of message of the love of God through other messengers.  

Today, my dear people of God, as we continue to grow in the understanding and appreciation of how much God loves us, let us join the choirs of angels in singing the praises of God, not just eventually in heaven, but wherever we are.  

MEDITATION What is my understanding and thoughts about angels? Does my contemplation on angels draw me into a closer relationship with the God? How can I be more open to the self-revelations of God, primarily in scripture, and also through other humans and possibly supernatural creatures?  What can I do to help announce the Good News to others and thus be angelic in my actions and words?

PRAYER Lord God, continue to pour out Your Holy Spirit to inspire and give us wisdom so that we may know Your presence with us. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

O DIVINE WORD, WHO TOOK FLESH FOR HUMAN SAKE, REDEEM US IN OUR SITUATION

© Rev Fr Utazi Prince Marie Benignus

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