My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate a majestic feast: the Feast of the Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael . Th...
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate a majestic feast: the Feast of the Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. This feast reminds us that the spiritual world is incredibly real, and it connects directly with our lives.
Our readings today speak of this reality, giving us three words that summarize the message: Assurance, Authority, and Ascent.
First, there is Assurance. The vision in the First Reading from Daniel or Revelation, and the angels in the Gospel, give us the assurance that we are not alone. St. Michael means "Who is like God?"—he is the great defender who fought the dragon. This reminds us that when we struggle with temptation and evil, God provides an angelic champion. We are assured of divine protection, always.
Second, we see Authority. St. Gabriel means "God is my strength" and he delivered crucial messages, like the Annunciation. This shows God's authority over history and our own lives. The Gospel speaks of Jesus, the Son of Man, upon whom the angels ascend and descend. It is Christ who holds all authority, and the angels simply execute His will. Their obedience calls us to submit to God's own will and plan for us.
Finally, there is Ascent. Jesus tells Nathanael he will see "heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending." This promise is for us, too. The angels are a ladder connecting heaven and earth. They are constantly moving between the eternal and the temporal, bringing God’s grace down and taking our prayers up. They remind us that our true home is in heaven, and our daily life is meant to be an ascent toward God.
So, let us find peace in the assurance of their defense, submit to God’s authority as they do, and strive for the ascent to heaven, knowing the Archangels are there to guide us every step of the way. Amen.
ليست هناك تعليقات