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“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the
angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of
Man.” John 1:51
In Heaven, we will see all things as God sees them. That full
perspective will be beyond glorious. And among the many things that
will amaze us from the perspective of Heaven is the incredibly
powerful ways that the celestial beings participate in the bringing
forth of the Kingdom of God. The Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones,
Dominions, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels and Guardian
Angels all cooperate with God’s grace in ways similar to how every
member of an orchestra works together to produce a single piece of
beautiful music. God is the conductor, but these celestial beings
participate in the grand fulfillment of the will of God, acting as
living instruments of His divine grace.
Today’s feast honors three of the great archangels mentioned in
Scripture: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. The Archangel Michael is
described as a protector in the Old Testament Book of Daniel and as
one who does battle with satan in the Books of Revelation and Jude.
In Revelation, Michael casts satan out of Heaven along with the
other fallen angels. The Archangel Gabriel is spoken of also in the
Book of Daniel as one who interprets Daniel’s vision. In the New
Testament, he is identified as the one who appears to the high
priest Zechariah while Zechariah is offering sacrifice in the
temple. In that appearance, Gabriel revealed to Zechariah that his
wife would have a child, even though she was advanced in years.
Gabriel is perhaps best known as the one sent to the Blessed Virgin
Mary to reveal to her that she will become the mother of the Savior
of the World. Lastly, the Archangel Raphael is referred to in the
Old Testament Book of Tobit and is said to have been sent to bring
healing to Tobit’s eyes.
As we honor these three archangels, we can be certain that they are
three of a countless number of other angelic beings who cooperate
with God, bringing forth His grace and His will into our world. Try
to imagine that profound truth. Some angelic beings build up the
Kingdom of God by devoting their existence to the perpetual worship
of God before His throne. The highest of these are the Seraphim.
Other angelic beings build up the Kingdom by bringing forth God’s
grace and truth to us, intervening in our lives in accord with
God’s will. These are especially the guardian angels. The
archangels, three of whom we honor today, especially have the task
of communicating to us the most important messages and graces from
God.
Reflect, today, upon the glorious reality of the whole host of the
celestial beings. Specifically call upon the mediation of these
three celestial beings whose names we know, Michael, Gabriel and
Raphael, as well as upon the mediation of our guardian angels and
all others celestial beings. By doing this, we not only entrust
ourselves to their loving care, but we also make an act of faith in
God by expressing our belief that God has chosen to use these
celestial beings to bring forth His Kingdom. By themselves, angels
are powerless to act. But since they act only in unison with the
will of God, their mediation is as powerful as the grace of God,
since it is God Who works through them. Acknowledge them today,
call upon their mediation and profess your faith in the glorious
work that they do to build up God’s Kingdom.
Most glorious Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, please do
come to my aid. I entrust myself, my family, our Church and the
entire world to your loving mediation. Please bring forth God’s
grace into our lives, communicate God’s Word and His holy Will,
protect us from all harm and bring healing to those in need. Angels
of God, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: File:7_archangels.jpg, Public domain, via Wikimedia
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