Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels
How much time does the average person spend thinking of Angels or Demons? I often find myself shying away from such thoughts especially when it comes to talk about Satan. I would rather focus on the angels among us, using angels as a metaphor. Also, I would rather translate Satan the same way as the Jewish community; Satan from the Hebrew means adversary. Yet, here is a feast of the lead angels. Perhaps it could help to see angels both metaphorically and literally.
Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are the only angels mentioned by name in the New Testament. Their appearances signal profound moment’s course of salvation history. However important those specific moments are today’s feast seems to be calling us to see their role in a larger light. What is the purpose of angels? St. Augustine said that “Angel” was their office not their nature. According to the Catechism, angels are servants and messengers of God, because they always behold God’s face. (Paragraph 329) They are spiritual beings who surround us and guard us. At Mass our prayers are united with all the choirs of angels. Their existence is by definition a part of our faith journey.
The feast of these three angels reminds us that angels have very specific roles. Do you have a connection to one of these names, if so do some further reflection on that angels specific role. Michael’s role is made clear in the reading from Revelation for today’s feast. “Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.” (Rev. 12 7b) The angels prevailed. Satan and “its angels were thrown down” to earth.
Certainly this story alludes to how Satan came to earth, but for me there are three even more important insights to be gained from this reading. First, is that we really do need to be attentive to spiritual battles playing out in our midst. Secondly, we need to be aware that there are angels constantly in our presence guiding and guarding us. And third, we too are called to be like the angels constantly turned toward the Lord; so that in all we say and do we sing praise to the Lord.
-Michael Montgomery