SAINTS MICHAEL, RAPHAEL and GABRIEL September 29

MARY IAPALUCCI | TLIC
The archangel Raphael is depicted in the gathering space of St. Raphael’s Church, East Meadow.

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory.” (Matthew 25-31).

What, and who, really are angels? Scripture speaks of them as beings created by God to assist us in our time on earth. Whether winged and haloed or walking beside us, they guide us in more ways than we are probably aware.

The names of the three angels recorded in the Bible are Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Michael is first mentioned as a great prince and a guardian of the people in the book of Daniel (10:13, 21 and 12). He is named as an archangel in Jude 1:9, where he argued with the devil but did not “pronounce a reviling judgment upon him but said, ‘May the Lord rebuke you!’” And finally, in John’s Revelation (12:7) he leads his angels in victorious battle against Satan (the dragon) and his fallen angels.

“I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.” (Luke 1:19) Gabriel was the angel who appeared both to Zachariah to tell him that his elderly wife would give him a son (John the Baptist), and to the young virgin, Mary, to announce that she would bear the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He also appeared to the prophet Daniel to help him interpret visions, and there Scripture tells us that Gabriel came to him “in rapid flight” (Daniel 9:21).

Raphael is spoken of in the book of Tobit, where he concealed his identity from Tobit and his son, Tobiah, until he successfully brought Tobiah into marriage with a young woman named Sarah, and restored Tobit’s sight, which he had lost. “I can now tell you that when you, Tobit, and Sarah prayed, it was I who presented and read the record of your prayer before the Glory of the Lord; and I did the same thing when you used to bury the dead ... I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who enter and serve before the Glory of the Lord.” (Tobit 12:12, 15)

Saints and our lives

Some thoughts on the impact angels can have on our lives today:

• Angels should be an important part of our lives, for the Bible tells us that we each have guardian angels from the time of our childhood: “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones,” Jesus said in regard to children, “for I tell you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10). Imagine, someone who kneels for you in God’s holy presence and witnesses the wonders of His glory! Someone who “reads the record of our prayers” before Almighty God! Angels are not meant to be worshiped; that is reserved for God alone. But we can ask them for protection and guidance in our lives. “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11) We should never be afraid to speak to our guardian angels, asking for their help in keeping us faithful to Christ.

• “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” (Hebrews 13:2) Here St. Paul gives a final exhortation in his letter to the Hebrews, and in it he reminds them that angels walk among us. Indeed, God visited Abraham with two of His angels in Genesis 18, and Abraham served them his finest food (Gen. 18:6-8). Hospitality should always be important to a Christian, for we follow a Savior who fed multitudes and made charity a priority for us. Reaching out to friends and even strangers should be a natural part of our faith in Christ.

• In his letter to the Hebrews, St. Paul also says of angels: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent to serve, for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14). While angels were created to minister to us, we should also follow their lead and always minister to and serve others. We can all “be an angel” to someone else, assisting an elderly neighbor, offering to watch a young mother’s children, making coffee for a harried co-worker, listening to a friend’s troubles — the list is endless! When we serve another in love we are entering into the presence of God as surely as the angels do.

Taken from “Evangelization and the Lives of the Saints: Saints Michael, Raphael and Gabriel,” produced by the diocesan Office of New Evangelization. For the complete pamphlet, visit the Office of New Evangelization at www.drvc.org.