Friday, 29 September 2023. Read Daniel 7:9-10,13-14, Ps. 138:1-5, John 1:47-51
“How do you know me?” Jesus answered, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” (John 1:48)
The existence of angels is a mystery, a reality not easily comprehended by human reasoning. Angels form part of what St. Paul talked about when he said: “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
In the book of Jude 1:9, we read: “But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, disputed about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a reviling judgment upon him, but said: ‘The Lord rebuke you.’” Michael is mentioned in the book of Revelations as waging war against the devil. “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world -- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” (Revelation 12:7-9).
In the book of Tobit, we encounter the Archangel Raphael as a travel companion, a healer, and a demon-destroyer. “And Raphael was sent to heal the two of them: to scale away the white films of Tobit’s eyes; to give Sarah the daughter of Raguel in marriage to Tobias the son of Tobit, and to bind Asmodeus the evil demon, because Tobias was entitled to possess her.” (Tobit 3:17)
Archangel Gabriel plays the role of the messenger of good news by bringing the message of the Annunciation to Mary in Luke 1:26-28 we read: “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Hail, O favoured one, the Lord is with you!” He was also the angel who told Zechariah he would have a child in his old age. (Luke 1:19 and following).
The power and working of the Angels are a testimony to God’s greatness and the fact that nothing is impossible with him. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus said to Nathanael, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” This statement shocked Nathanael; it revealed to him the power of God, and he was converted instantly. Angels also reveal to us the power of God at work among men. Just as Nathanael couldn’t understand how Jesus was able to see him under the fig tree, we cannot fully understand how the angels work, but we know that they are real.
Today’s first reading contains the vision of Daniel. In this vision, Daniel saw “the one of great age.” A thousand thousand waited on him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. Daniel’s vision reminds me of the Transfiguration scene. When Peter saw how Jesus was transfigured, he wanted to build tents. No doubt, heaven is such a wonderful place to be. As we celebrate these Archangels today, remember that there is more to reality than what meets the eye.
Let us pray: Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God commits me here, ever this day, be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide me. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels – Feast, Bible Study: Daniel 7:9-10,13-14, Ps. 138:1-5, John 1:47-51).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu
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