FEAST OF SAINTS MICHAEL, GABRIEL, AND RAPHAEL, ARCHANGELS
Revelation 12:7-12ab
And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 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.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming,
“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah, for the accuser of our comrades has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not cling to life even in the face of death. Rejoice then, you heavens and those who dwell in them!”
Psalm 138:1-5
I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted your name and your word above everything. On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul.
All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth. They shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.
John 1:47-51
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
(NRSVCE)
Meditation
Knowing that the devil, the deceiver of the whole world, was thrown down to earth with his angels, that we should be aware that there is intentional deception being perpetrated against us. We have an enemy here so we need to know what to do about it.
War is a crucial part of the Christian walk. If the angels of God, innocent and guileless spirits, had to fight against Satan, then we must fight against him too.
When Satan rebelled and enticed other angels to follow him, it was Michael who raised the call, “Who is like God?” Michael knew the power of God and his place in God’s creation. He knew he had to fight his enemy and the weapons that were available to him: the blood of the Lamb and the word of truth.
The angels are ministering servants who deliver messages, protect us and fight for us. We can remember the invisible realm of the angels who are missionaries who come to our aid straight from heaven. They work with and for us, the Church militant on earth, to defeat our enemy. We have the victory just as the angels did, by the blood of the Lamb and the Word.