September 29th, 2018

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels

LECTIONARY
647

FIRST READING
DN 7:9-10, 13-14

As I watched:

Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.

The court was convened, and the books were opened.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw

One like a son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

PSALM
PS 138:1-2AB, 2CDE-3, 4-5

Response: In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.

Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.

All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth;
And they shall sing of the ways of the LORD:
“Great is the glory of the LORD.”

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.”

Daily Reflection

29th September 2018

Archangels – Gabriel, Michael and Raphael

Each of us has God-experiences, though not all are aware of these! It is believed that these divine encounters are through God’s mediators... his angels.

The word angel ends with “el”, which is the term used for God, implying that angels live in (or) come from God; the prefix to ‘el’ in the angel’s name defines the attribute of God communicated through the particular angel.

Michael, the archangel, is considered to be the leader of all the Archangels and is believed to bring God’s protection, courage, strength, truth and integrity.

Raphael, the archangel, brings God’s healing in physical, mental and emotional illnesses as well as the healing of past wounds. Biblically, Raphael’s presence is evident in the stories of Abraham, Tobias, the stirring of the waters of the healing pool.

Gabriel, the archangel, brings God’s message, inspiration and guidance. Examples of God’s appearances through Gabriel are found in the Bible in narratives about Daniel, Elizabeth and Mary.

May the feast of the archangels help us become more aware of our many divine encounters.