Posted by The WORD in other words (2022) by Brother Iopam Willy Vincent SVD – Divine Word College of San Jose
Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael – September 29
Imagine meeting a stranger and trying to introduce yourself to him, and suddenly realizing that he already knew so much about you! Well, this is exactly what happened in the Gospel story today: Jesus telling Nathanael that He had known him before they actually met. Jesus sought honest and sincere apostles. He took a liking to Nathanael, an Israelite without guile in his heart. Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards Him and said of him, “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him.” Jesus saw what was hidden in the heart that others could not see. He recognized the virtue that Nathanael lived, akin to the virtue of God’s kingdom.
The Bible has many passages referring to angels as messengers who honor God’s holy will. The Church venerates today the holy service of three archangels for their honest love for God’s most holy will. St. Gabriel faithfully delivered the most important messages of human history to Zacharias and Mary. St. Michael wrestled with Lucifer and cast him out of heaven. St. Raphael came to the aid of Tobias in the Old Testament. In these angels, there isn’t any duplicity of heart. God asks them a favor and they truly fulfill it. That is the same virtue Jesus noticed and liked in Nathanael – good conscience and obedience, God-fearing, and faithful to His holy will.
The feast of these Archangels reminds the faithful that God is almighty, victorious over evil spirits. God is our Healer, forgiving our sins and strengthening us with His love. May God also strengthen our faith so that we too become aware of the presence of angels and archangels joining us to worship and praise the Lord and do His holy will on earth.
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