Called to be Messengers, Consolers and Defenders

Homily: Feast of St. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels

29 September 2021

Who are angels? What roles do they play in our faith history, in the story of human salvation? 

It is most fitting that we give light to these questions as we celebrate today the feast of Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. 

The word “angels” principally means “messengers”. They are God’s messengers as the Bible would portray them; they are the bearers of His will, of His pronouncements, of His love and goodness to His people. In Jewish and Christian Scriptures, the angels appear to suggest God’s presence. They are sent by God to be our helper, our rescuer and our source of comfort and consolation. The Letter to the Hebrews has more to say about the role of angels in our midst: “What are angels, then? They are spirits who serve God and are sent by Him to help those who are to receive salvation.” (Hebrews 1:14) We also take note that “El” is one of the Hebrew words for “God”. “Mica-el” means “who is like God.” “Gabri-el” means “God is strong.” “Rapha-el” means “God heals.” 

As messengers of God, we recall in the Gospel of Luke that it was the angel Gabriel who told Mary that she was to be the mother of Jesus. It was also Gabriel who announced to Zechariah the birth of his son of his old age, John the Baptist. In Matthew’s Gospel, it was also an angel who was sent to tell Joseph that Mary had conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was also an angel who told Joseph to flee to Egypt with Jesus and Mary. It was an angel as well who told the women the great news that Jesus has been raised. 

As consoler of God, we call to mind Raphael’s mission to Tobiah in the Old Testament. He served as his guardian angel, protecting him on the dangerous journey, healing his father Tobit from blindness and introducing him to his wife Sarah and eventually healing her as well. In Tobit 12:15, Raphael reveals himself saying: “I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who enter and serve before the Glory of the Lord.” Though not named, an angel comforted Jesus in His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Luke 22:43)

As defender of the good, Michael is depicted as battling against the dragon in the passage from the Book of Revelation. “The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail.” (Revelations 12:7)

Today’s feast and the stories of angels in the Bible remind us that we too can and should be God’s messengers, like Gabriel. We are to be bringers of God’s consolation and concern to our wearied brothers and sisters during these trying times, like Raphael. Finally, like Michael, we are called to emulate him in fighting for the good (defending the truth) and in ensuring that God reigns in every heart of all believers.

Let us thank God for the presence of angels in our lives. They are those angels whom we can see and those angels who act and are very much present, “ascending and descending” in our pilgrimage through life.