Daily Gospel Reflection – Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels
September 29, 2021
Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels
Gospel: Jn 1:47-51
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
“Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him.”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“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.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this.”
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.”
Source: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Bishop Robert Barron
Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Meditating on these angels can tell us a great deal about the priesthood. For they exemplify the three fundamental tasks of the priest: healer, fighter, and evangelizer.
Raphael is a healer; consult the book of Tobit for the details. Michael is a fighter. When Satan dares to claim equality with God, Michael speaks his name, Mich-a-el?—“Who is like God?” And this is his victory. And Gabriel is the great messenger angel, the one who announces the Incarnation to a young maiden of Nazareth.
Perhaps more than ever today, people are suffering with what the hymn calls “sin-sick souls.” The great salve for all of these wounds is Jesus Christ. But who will bring this salve to a hurting world? This is why Christ raises up priests. Just think of the racism, the hatred, and the injustice that reign everywhere. Who will fight? This is why Christ raises up priests, as new Michaels.
Finally, Jesus is a preacher. He is, after all, the Word of God made flesh. Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised that the Word comes forth from him with unique power.
COMMENTS