Read: Dan 7:9-10, 13-14, Ps 138 ,Jn 1:47-51
Stories have been told about people who have encountered extraordinary beings. These beings appeared from nowhere and helped those who were in perilous situations. After saving the situation, these extraordinary beings vanished just as they had appeared. And the conclusion that was drawn was, “I HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL”
Angels are spirit beings who are messengers of God. They do the bidding of the Almighty God.
They are sent to announce Good News or news of pending danger.
They are also sent to help God’s people in certain difficulties.
Today, we to celebrate 3 special angels called THE ARCHANGELS.
They are Michael, Raphael and Gabriel. These are very important angels that God uses at crucial times in human history.
Michael, whose name means “He who is like God” was the Army Commander who led the angels of God to defeat Lucifer and his rebellious cohorts. Like his name, he had the power of God to suppress the coup d’etat of the Devil.
Raphael whose name means “God heals” is encountered in the Deuterocanonical Book of Tobit (Sorry for my Non-Catholic readers…..You won’t find it in your Bible). He was sent to accompany young Tobias on his journey; to retrieve a debt for blind Tobit; to heal the blindness of old Tobit and to deliver beautiful Sarah from the bondage of the evil-demon Asmodeus. These Raphael did in a very beautiful way as depicted in the story.
As for Archangel Gabriel, we know him very well. His name means, “God is my strength”. It was through him that the Great News of the births of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ were made known to Zachariah and Mary.
Beloved, God always sends help to us through angels without our knowing. Let’s thank him for the many angels who have come to our aid without us knowing. But most importantly let us also be angels to other people.
We can become Michaels by showing the power of God as we pray and battle against the evils in our world.
We can become Raphaels as we bring healing, consolation and liberation to those who suffer physical and spiritual torture through our prayers of intercession.
We can also become Gabriels as we carry the Good News to other people. Let’s tell them of how special they are in the eyes of God. That they still matter to Him and that He has good plans for them.
We are humans in the flesh but we can be angels by our deeds.
Beloved, let’s be angels to one another.
“Lord Jesus, your angels obey your every word. May we too obey your commands as we carry our angelic duties to humanity.”
By Fr. Donatus Pallu
