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XXVII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL
By our Pastor, Fr. Carmelo Jiménez
We celebrate in a special way today our Patron Saint: Saint Michael the Archangel. I know that everywhere it was already celebrated on September 29th on the day of the Holy Archangels. As a community we didn’t want this important day to pass by unnoticed by our community of the parish of Sebree, KY.
Some common questions are: What is an angel? What does an angel do? Are there really seven choirs? Theology hasn’t really said much with respect to this, but Saint Gregory the Great, in the Office of Readings of the Liturgy of the Hours tells us: “You should be aware that the word “angel” denotes a function rather than a nature. Those holy spirits of heaven have indeed always been spirits. They can only be called angels when they deliver some message. Moreover, those who deliver messages of lesser importance are called angels; and those who proclaim messages of supreme importance are called archangels.”
With respect to the choirs of angels there aren’t seven but rather nine that appear in the Sacred Scriptures, we find: Cherubim (Heb 9:5), seraphim (Is 6:2), thrones, dominions, principalities, powers (Col 1:16), angelic virtues (Ez 1:24-27), angels (Heb 12:22) and archangels (Lc 1:26, Tob 3:16-17, Rev 12:7).
Continuing with the reading of Saint Gregory the Great from the Office of Readings, he explains to us the reason for the names: “Some angels are given proper names to denote the service they are empowered to perform. In that holy city, where perfect knowledge flows from the vision of almighty God, those who have no names may easily be known. But personal names are assigned to some, not because they could not be known without them, but rather to denote their ministry when they came among us. Thus, Michael means “Who is like God”; Gabriel is “The Strength of God”; and Raphael is “God’s Remedy.”
I am going to focus on Saint Michael, Who is like God! It is a battle cry in defense of the rights of God. He is one of the supreme leaders of the angelic legion which came to the aid of the prophet Daniel. The Book of Revelation narrates the battle that took place between Lucifer or Satan and Saint Michael. Saint Michael was victorious and cast the devil down to earth. In the liturgy, where he has been venerated since the 5th century, Michael the Archangel assumes the role of protector. This is true in the celebration of the word in mass (first reading), as well as in the Liturgy of the Hours in the antiphons and Office of Readings. He always appears with this role.
In the gospel reading Jesus surprises Nathaniel saying: “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (Jn 1:48.51) The action is the same: to see. “I saw you.” “You will see.” The gaze of Jesus is always a look of merciful love. It is a look that includes all that we are, our past, our present and also our future to which we are destined in the person of Christ from all eternity. This look is precious and that is why he sends angels to care for and protect each one of his brothers and sisters, children of God through baptism.
Today we celebrate the gift of the holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, and also the guardian angels, which make up the thousands and thousands who serve God and the millions that are at his command With His prayer we are able to reach the Lord, love him above all things, be strong because he is with us on the journey of life. There is an unbreakable hope because he possesses the medicines for all of our ailments. Amen.