Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels
“You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (cf. Jn. 1:51).
We know the Archangels mentioned today from the Holy Scriptures for their mission that God gave them. The very term "angel" ἄγγελος angelos literally means "messenger" (sent). An angel is therefore a messenger of God. We know Michael as the protector of Israel, the chosen people, we know Gabriel from the scenes of the Annunciation to Mary and Zechariah, as well as from the vision of Daniel (cf. Dn. 8:16; 9:21) and Raphael from the Book of Tobit.
Michael Archangel
In the Christian tradition, Michael is the first and most important of the angels (cf. Dn. 10:13; 12: 1; Rev 12: 7ff), gifted with special trust by God. The Hebrew name Mika'el means "Who is like God". According to tradition, when Lucifer rebelled against God and persuaded some of the angels to rebel, Archangel Michael was to come forward and shout "Who like God" to declare war on Satan. Michael is mentioned five times in the Scriptures. In the book of Daniel, he is called "one of the chief princes of heaven" (cf. Dn. 13:21) and "protector of the people of Israel" (cf. Dn. 12: 1). St. John the Apostle describes him in the Apocalypse as standing at the head of the heavenly spirits, fighting against Satan (Rev 12: 7).
St. Jude the Apostle says that he was commissioned to guard the body of Moses after his death (cf. Jude 9). St. Paul Apostle also mentions him (cf. 1 Thess 4:16). He is considered an angel of justice and judgment, grace and mercy. Even more the importance of St. Michael is accentuated by apocryphal books: the Book of Enoch, the Apocalypse of Baruch or the Apocalypse of Moses, in which Michael appears as the most important person after God, as the executor of God's plans for the earth, mankind and Israel. Michael is the prince of angels, he is an angel of judgment and God's punishments, but also an angel of God's mercy. Early Christian writers attribute many of these attributes to him; they consider him an angel from especially important divine orders. They write about him, among others Tertullian, Origen, Hermas and Didimus. As praepositus paradisi, he is to weigh souls at the Last Judgment. He is revered as the protector of the People of God and therefore the Church, heir of Israel, honors him as her protector
Gabriel Archangel
Gabriel first appears under this name in the Book of Daniel (cf. Dn. 8: 15-26; 9: 21-27). In the first case, he explains to Daniel the significance of the mysterious vision of the two-horned ram and the goat illustrating the conquest by Greece of the powerful Medes and Persians; in the second case, the archangel Gabriel explains to the prophet Daniel the prophecy of Jeremiah about Seventy Weeks (cf. Dn 9:24-27). The name "Gabriel" means " God is my Strength" or " strong man, hero - warrior of God". In the Christian tradition (cf. Lk 1: 11-20, 26-31), he brings the Good News. He appears to Zechariah, announcing the birth of his son, John the Baptist. He also announces to Mary that she will become the Mother of the Son of God. According to some church writers, Gabriel was the guardian angel of the Holy Family. He came to Joseph in dreams (cf. Mt 1: 20-24; 2:13; 2: 19-20). He was an angel of comfort in the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk 22:43) and a herald at the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (cf. Mt 28: 5-6) and at His ascension (cf. Acts 1:10).
Raphael Archangel
Raphael introduced himself in the Book of Tobit that he is “one of the seven angels who stand and serve before the Glory of the Lord " (cf. Tb 12:15). He appears in a human form, takes the common name Azariah and offers his company and protection to the young Tobias, who travels from Nineveh to Media (cf. Tb 5:1-6:18). He saves him from many dangerous adventures, chases away the demon Asmodeus, heals his blind father, Tobias. The Hebrew name Raphael means " God has healed".
Today's readings, however, point to a more fundamental role of these angels in salvation history. The Apocalypse speaks of a battle in heaven in which the Archangel Michael, with his angels, expelled Satan and his angels down from heaven. This expelling signifies that Satan has lost direct access to God and his malicious role as the accuser of man before God is over. Saint John writes: The accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night. (cf. Rev 12:10)
Of course, the Apocalypse is a symbolic book and the images it provides should not be taken literally. However, the pictures reveal the truth in a symbolic form. Angels, as God's creatures, more perfect than us, take part in the fight against the powers of darkness. God wants salvation to take place within creation itself. Therefore, the fight takes place inside the created world between the angels headed by Michael and the Devil with his angels. For the same reason, the struggle against the sin committed on earth took place on earth. More specifically, man's deception has been accomplished on the tree, and salvation has also been accomplished on the tree. It was done by Jesus Christ, the Son of God made Man.
The image of angels ascending and descending upon Jesus indicates His holiness. More precisely, that in him there is a meeting place of heaven and earth. This image alludes to Jacob's vision in Peniel when he ran away from his brother Esau to his uncle Laban. A dream in which he saw those ascending and descending angels to this place made him realize the sanctity of the place. More precisely, it is the point of contact between heaven and earth, a place where there is direct access to God. Well, this "place where heaven and earth meet” fully is Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Man at the same time. He is our reconciliation with God, to which we can now call: "Father"
Until Tomorrow
fr. george