THE FEAST OF THE ARCHANGELS: God's love to us

The feast of Archangels

Today we celebrate the feast of the Archangels which in the minds of many people does not really have a lot of relevance because people do not recognize the reality of the angels. Even though in Scripture the angels are mentioned more than three hundred times and their work is hailed in many different ways, people think they are not real because they cannot see them.

The three archangels we celebrate today are: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. All three names end with "el", which is the old Jewish word for "God". Jesus in today`s Gospel speaks of "angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man," referring to an incident in the Book of Genesis. In Jacob's dream, he saw a ladder with its feet on the ground and its top reaching to the heavens. The angels of God were moving up and down the ladder.

The image of Yahweh and the angels in Jacob’s dream describes quite literally what “angel” or “archangel” means. It means a function not a nature; and God has given functions to angels to play in the lives of human beings. Angels are messengers of Yahweh, intermediaries between God and humans. They bring God's word and his blessings to men and women. They are the agents through whom God intervenes in the lives of individuals and of a human society.

Gabriel means "God is mighty". Gabriel had a main role in communicating God's plan of redemption. It was he who put to Mary God's invitation to conceive within her womb under the power of the Holy Spirit a child who will be holy and will be called Son of God.

The name `Michael' means "Who is like God?" Michael was venerated by the Jewish people. In the Book of Daniel, he is called "the Great Commander who defends the sons of the Jewish people." The New Testament recognizes him as the leader of the angelic hosts in their victorious battle over Satan's evil forces. (Revelation 12:7-9; Daniel 12:1)

The meaning of  `Raphael' is "God has healed." Raphael was the companion Tobias chose to accompany him on his journey. Raphael protected Tobias on the journey, found a wife for him, and freed her of a curse that was upon her. He also cured Tobias' father of his blindness. (Tobit 5-12)

In honoring the angels and archangels we honor God’s power and might in our lives. The angels serve us. They are the personalized manifestation of God's goodness to us. In the preface before starting the Eucharistic prayer in mass, we proclaim that we join the angels and archangels in their song of praise to the Lord.  May we truly join them and especially, may we become angels to each other.