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CALLED TO CONTINUE THE MINISTRY OF THE ARCHANGELS AS PROTECTORS, HEALERS AND MESSENGE - stephenkhoo - 09-29-2015 09:36 AM
CALLED TO CONTINUE THE MINISTRY OF THE ARCHANGELS AS PROTECTORS, HEALERS AND MESSENGERS
SCRIPTURE READINGS: REV 12:7-12; JN 1:47-51
Today, we celebrate the feast of the Archangels. This feast presupposes that we believe in the existence of angels. However, belief in the existence of angels is placed in doubt today. The modern man cannot trust in things that he cannot see or feel, because he lives in a world which values only empirical evidence. Secularization has relegated angelology and demonology to the realm of mythology. Hence, believing in angels is as good as believing in Santa Claus. With the denial of angels, there is also the corresponding disbelief in the existence of Satan and his devils. Conversely, if one denies the existence of the devils, one cannot in the same breath accept the existence of angels, since devils are fallen angels in the first place.
Nevertheless, angels and devils are pure spirits created by God. The official doctrine of the Church in the Council of Lateran in 1215 teaches “We firmly believe and profess without qualification that the Three Divine Persons are one, the only principle of all things – Creator of all things visible and invisible, spiritual and corporeal, who by his almighty power, from the very beginning of time has created both orders of creatures in the same way out of nothing, the spiritual or angelic world and the corporeal or visible universe. After afterward He formed the creature man, who in a way belongs to both orders, as he is composed of spirit and body. For the devil and the other demons were created by God good according to their nature, but they made themselves evil by their own doing. As for man, his sin was at the prompting of the devil.”
The existence of angels and the devils were once again reiterated in the document issued by the Sacred Congregation of Divine Worship (SCDW) in 1975 regarding “Christian Faith and Demonology.” In the teaching of Christ and in the scripture, the existence of angels and devils are revealed as a dogma. The ministry of Jesus in the proclamation of the Kingdom of God is situated against the background of the work of Satan. In the gospel today, Jesus affirms the truth of scripture regarding the existence of the angels when He said, “I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.” Hence, the existence of angels has always been the universal and constant faith of the Church, firmly taught and held. For this reason, the angels are mentioned in the liturgy at the penitential rite and the Eucharistic prayer as they have a role in our salvation.
However, belief in the existence of angels is not sufficient. There is the question of consciousness. Ironically, even for us who believe in the existence of angels and demons, most have little consciousness of the presence of the angels although some might have consciousness of the presence of the devils and his works. This could be because we hardly pray to the angels as they are pure spirits, unlike Jesus and the saints. The feasts of the Archangels and the Guardian angels are therefore important in instilling in us a consciousness of them in our lives and their place in our salvation.
Who then are the archangels? Angels, as we know, are actually messengers of God. Angels like us are created for the service of God. Our vocation is to minister to God in worship and in the service of the kingdom and our fellowmen. Angels therefore have a role in our salvation. As such, angels are named after their powers and activities. St Michael means “Who is like God”, Gabriel “Strength of God” and Raphael, “Healing of God.”
St Michael is assigned to the work of defender, for no one can do what God can do. Only God can defeat Satan. He is seen as the one who battles with the devil and his evil angels, defending the people of God. He reminds us of the real existence of the Devil and of his diabolical activity. Therefore, we must be alert to the work of the devil as St Paul reminds us in 1 Pt 5:8, “Be calm but vigilant, because your enemy the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. Stand up to him, strong in faith!” Indeed as the SCDW warns us, “It would be indeed a fatal mistake to act as if history were already finished and redemption has achieved all its effects, so that it would no longer be necessary to engage in the struggle of which the New Testament and the masters of the spiritual life speak.”
St Gabriel was sent to announce to Zechariah the coming birth of John the Baptist and to Mary, the birth of Jesus. Besides carrying the Good News to Mary, he was there to assure Mary of God’s grace and that God would be with her in the difficult office of being the mother of the Saviour. Hence, he is rightly called the “strength of God.” As for Archangel Raphael, he is venerated as the healing power of God because he took care of Tobias and healed him of his blindness.
Today as we celebrate this feast, we are reminded of our own ministry as baptized Christians. We too are called to continue the work that they have begun and are still doing in our midst. By virtue of our baptism, we are anointed to be Christ’s priests, shepherds and prophets.
Like St Michael, we are called to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the wiles of Satan. We are called to help those under our care, our fellow Catholics, our children and our families to grow in their faith and not fall under the temptations of the Evil One. We must therefore strengthen our faith so that we can be firm against the work of the Devil, especially in a world where atheism is becoming more and more hostile towards God and all religions. We too are called to remove all evil and sins from our lives, and defending ourselves from the influence of the evil spirits. To do this, we need to have recourse to the Archangel, St Michael, to defend us in our battles against the work of the Devil and his demons.
As prophets, like St Gabriel, we should imitate him by being the bearers and messengers of the Good News, enlightening and strengthening those under our charge with the Word of God and the word of grace. There are many ways we can strengthen the faith of our people, especially those who are discouraged, confused and lost. We can help them through our sharing, our testimonies of what God has done for us, or by enlightening them in the truth. By helping weaker Catholics in their faith, we too, like St Gabriel, can be their strength in times of adversity and misfortunes.
Finally, as members if the royal priesthood, like St Raphael, we are called to heal our people through forgiveness, love and genuine concern for those in need. What better way to heal them than to bring to them the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick? These are the most powerful means the Lord has left to the Church to continue His work of healing. Besides the sacraments, we should pray for those who need healing, especially healing of memories, past hurts and traumas and deliverance from the evil spirits. Turning to Mary, the Saints and Archangel Raphael, we must pray for our own and those who need healing. We should also have faith in the Lord who is our healer, and not hesitate to turn to Him to heal us physically, emotionally, spiritual or psychologically.
Yes, besides praying to the saints, God has given us His Archangels to help protect us from the Evil One, and strength to make this pilgrimage of life. Consequently, we must pray to them for help in our ministry and for our daily life. This will increase our consciousness of their presence and assistance. In our work as defenders of the faith and the faithful, let us turn to St Michael to help us defeat the powers of Satan and his angels, and most of all, to give us the gift of discernment. As messengers of God, we must pray to St Gabriel for help to be proclaimers of the Good News. Finally as healers, let us ask Raphael for help in ministering to the sick and broken with faith so that those who receive our assistance will experience the healing grace of God.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh