Today we celebrate the feast day of the Archangels, St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael. Let us dwell a little bit on the named Archangels. Gabriel, a man of God, “God is my strength”. He is a messenger of God . Raphael, God heals or “He who heals” He is a guardian. St Michael “who is like God” is a warrior. These His angels are here to bring the awareness of the Lord’s presence, His peace, healing, love and joy. They have been with us from the beginning of time.
In today’s first reading, we hear how the heavens were emptied of all the evil that was brought about by Satan, his minions, his fellow ‘dark’ angels. They were cast out from heaven. And today we have an opportunity to experience heaven here on earth. In today’s Gospel the Lord promises Nathanael that he will be able to see the angels from heaven descending and ascending. This promise too has been opened for all of us who are one with the Lord, who are following after Him.
For by His life, death, and resurrection, the heavens have been opened for all of us. Our Lord Jesus Christ has conquered death and has empowered us to do great things as He has done: to bring about His healing, messages of His love, to fight and cast out all evil. So in essence, we are called to be like the Archangels, to bring about His justice here on earth.
And so as we embark on this mission, we ask for the Holy intercession of the Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and Raphael. Amen.
Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels – Pray for us…
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First reading
Daniel 7:9-10,13-14
His robe was white as snow
As I watched:
Thrones were set in place
and one of great age took his seat.
His robe was white as snow,
the hair of his head as pure as wool.
His throne was a blaze of flames,
its wheels were a burning fire.
A stream of fire poured out,
issuing from his presence.
A thousand thousand waited on him,
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
A court was held
and the books were opened.
I gazed into the visions of the night.
And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven,
one like a son of man.
He came to the one of great age
and was led into his presence.
On him was conferred sovereignty,
glory and kingship,
and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.
His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty
which shall never pass away,
nor will his empire ever be destroyed.
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Gospel
John 1:47-51
You will see heaven laid open, and the Son of Man
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, ‘There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit.’ ‘How do you know me?’ said Nathanael. ‘Before Philip came to call you,’ said Jesus ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ Nathanael answered, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.’ Jesus replied, ‘You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.’ And then he added ‘I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.’
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