Hôm nay, chúng ta mừng kính lễ các Tổng lãnh thiên thần Michael, Gabriel và Raphael.
Tất cả chúng ta chắc ai cũng biết và quen thuộc với Tổng lãnh thiên thần Michael, người chiến binh, vệ sĩ của Thiên Chúa, và với Tổng lãnh thiên thần Gabriel, người sứ giả của Thiên Chúa xuống. truyền tin và đem tin mừng tới Đức Maria và Zechariah và cho nhân loại vì sự ra đời của Chúa Giêsu và Goan Tẩy giả. Tổng lãnh thiên thần Raphael, Người "Y sĩ của Thiên Chúa," mà chúng ta thấy xuất hiện trong sách Tobit để chữa lành mắt cho Tobit khỏi chứng mù lòa và bảo vệ Tobias trong cuộc hôn nhân với cô Sara, người đã bị nhiều quỷ dữ dày vò.
Trong bài đọc thứ Nhất trích sách Khải Huyền, chúng ta thấy Michael, chiến binh của Thiên Chúa, đánh bại Sa-tan và những kẻ ác của hắn. Những cuộc tranh đấu để chống lại lực lượng gian ác tiếp tục đến ngày hôm nay. Giáo Hội dạy chúng ta phải biết chống lại điều gian ác và dối trá. Tổng lãnh thiên thần Michael đang tiếp tục giúp bảo vệ Giáo Hội và tất cả những người sống mà có lòng tốt và trọng sự thật.
Trong bài Tin Mừng, chúng ta thấy Chúa Giêsu kêu gọi các môn đệ đầu tiên của Ngài, chúng ta nghe Chúa Giê-su bảo đảm với chúng ta rằng các thiên thần đang ở trong sự sẵn sằng chờ lệnh của Thiên Chúa, " các thiên thần của Thiên Chúa lên xuống trên Con Người." Các thiên thần và các tổng lãnh Thiên Thần giúp chúng ta trong cuộc hành trình của cuộc sống của chúng ta đến với thiên đàng và nước Thiên Cha, Chúng tôi được kêu gọi để ưến với các Thiên Thần để cầu bầu và giúp chúng ta trong cuộc sống hàng ngày của chúng ta và nhất là trong những khi cần thiết.
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. We are familiar with Michael, the fighter and warrior of God, and with Gabriel, God's messenger to Mary and Zechariah for the birth of their sons.
The Archangel Raphael, "the Medicine of God," appears in the book of Tobit to heal Tobit from his blindness and to protect Tobias in her marriage to Sara who had been tormented by many devils.
In the first reading from Revelation, we see Michael, God's warrior, defeating Satan and his evil hosts. These struggles against evil forces continue today. The Church teaches against evil and lies. Michael helps protect the Church and all those who live for goodness and truth.
In the Gospel reading, at Jesus' call of his first disciples, we hear Jesus assuring us that angels are at God's bidding, "ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." The angels and archangels help us in our life journey to heaven and the kingdom of God. We are urged to call upon them in our daily lives and in time of need.
“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.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth, I praise you for the angels who behold your glory and serve your plan of salvation. Through the intercession of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, protect me from evil, strengthen me in faith, and help me faithfully accomplish the mission you have entrusted to me.
1. The Angels Serve Christ: We profess in the Creed that God is “the maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.” Among the invisible creatures are the angels, spiritual beings whom God created to glorify him and to serve his plan of salvation. “With their whole beings the angels are servants and messengers of God” (CCC, 329). They belong to Christ because they were created through him and for him (see Colossians 1:16). Today’s Gospel gives us a glimpse of their mysterious service. Jesus tells Nathanael that he will see “heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” The image recalls Jacob’s dream of the ladder between heaven and earth (Genesis 28:10-17). Jesus is now revealed as the true meeting place between God and humanity. In him, heaven and earth are united. The angels ascend and descend upon the Son of Man because they serve the mystery of Christ and his Kingdom. The Church therefore does not worship angels. We worship God, their Creator and Lord. But we rightly honor the angels because they are his faithful servants and because God has chosen to make use of them in accomplishing his purposes. The Catechismteaches that “the whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of angels” (CCC, 334). Their example reminds us that the greatness of a creature consists not in independence from God but in loving relationship with him.
3. Gabriel Proclaims and Raphael Accompanies: Michael reminds us to stand firm against evil, while Gabriel and Raphael reveal other dimensions of the angels’ service. Gabriel is God’s messenger. He appears to Daniel, to Zechariah, and most famously to the Virgin Mary, announcing the coming of the Savior (see Daniel 8:16; Luke 1:19, 26-38). His mission reminds us that God’s saving work comes to us through his Word. Gabriel does not draw attention to himself; he delivers God’s message and points toward what God is accomplishing.
Raphael appears in the Book of Tobit as a companion and guide. He accompanies Tobias on his journey, protects him, and brings healing to his family. His name means “God heals.” His ministry reminds us that God’s providence often works through unseen assistance and that we, too, are called to accompany and assist others on their journey. The three archangels therefore present three complementary images of faithful service. Michael defends God’s people; Gabriel announces God’s Word; Raphael accompanies and assists God’s people. None seeks personal glory. Each fulfills the mission God has given. This is also the calling of every Christian. We are not angels, nor do we possess their nature, but we are called to imitate their fidelity. We can defend what is good, proclaim the truth, encourage those who are discouraged, accompany those who are suffering, and help others encounter Christ. Like Michael, we can reject the temptation to make ourselves the center. Like Gabriel, we can become messengers of God’s truth. Like Raphael, we can accompany others with patience and charity. The angels ultimately point us toward Christ. He is the Son of Man upon whom heaven is opened. He is the King whom Michael serves, the Savior whose coming Gabriel announces, and the divine physician whose saving work Raphael’s ministry foreshadows. The Christian life is therefore not a struggle undertaken in isolation. We journey toward the Kingdom under the providence of God, aided by his grace and accompanied by his heavenly servants.
1. Saint Michael as the Guardian of God’s People: As Christians, we profess that God is the Creator of heaven and earth, of all that is visible and invisible. The angels that God created are spiritual creatures, called to glorify God without ceasing and chosen to minister according to God’s plan of salvation for humanity. The good angels surround Christ, their Lord. They serve him especially in the accomplishment of his saving mission to men. The Church venerates the angels who help her on her earthly pilgrimage and protect every human being (see CCC, 351-352). The Old Testament sees Michael as the guardian of God’s people; he is the great prince who has charge of them (see Daniel 10:21; 12:1). “It is no surprise then that he appears [in Revelation 12] to foil the devil’s attempt to make war on the woman (the Church) and Christ. The passage demonstrates that there is a spiritual battle waging behind the scenes of history” (Barber, Coming Soon, 158).
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