September 29, 2004 - Wednesday, 26th Week in Ordinary Time
Feast of the Archangels,
STS. MICHAEL, GABRIEL, RAPHAEL

Readings:
Dan 7:9-14; Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 4-5; Jn 1:47-51

Introduction

We know that God loves us, that he protects us and guides us to our destiny. In the Bible, angels are presented God's messengers to people, to help us to carry out God's plans. The archangel Michael is mentioned in the last book of the Bible as the angel who leads the fight against the power of evil and who wants God's work and Christ to overcome all evil. Gabriel is the messenger of the Annunciation; Raphael is the angel companion and healer in the Book of Tobias.

Angels, then, are the sign of God's guiding love and concern for us. We may not forget today also the many people who help and guide us in many ways by their love and care. They too, are, so to speak, God's angels to us.

Opening Prayer

Lord our God, you are our providence.
We are sure that you want to guide us to you,
that you want to save us,
that you love each of us personally, as we are,
and that you do everything you can do
to make yourself known to us.
Whatever way you come to us
and whoever your messengers are,
may we recognize you and accept you
and love you in them.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Scripture Readings

First Reading: Dan 7:9-14

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.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 4-5

R (1) 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.
R In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

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

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."
R In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

Gospel Reading: Jn 1:47-51

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming, he said of him, "Here comes an Israelite, a true one; there is nothing false in him." Nathanael asked him, "How do you know me?" And Jesus said to him, "Before Philip called you, you were under the fig tree and I saw you."

Nathanael answered, "Master, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" But Jesus replied, "You believe because I said: 'I saw you under the fig tree.' But you will see greater things than that.

Truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

Commentary

THE word "angel" means "messenger" (Greek, angelos). In the Old Testament the Hebrew word mal'ak was applied to both human and divine messengers. The more remote God seemed, the greater became the need for intermediaries. Certain mighty figures, later known as archangels, appear in the Book of Daniel, and the process of naming angels began. A confusing variety of functions and names is found, probably because angels were important in popular devotion. All these names have meanings, of course. Michael means "one who is like God," Gabriel means "God is strong," Raphael means "God heals," Daniel means "God judges," Elizabeth means "God is fullness," and so on. The archangel Michael was thought to have a special responsibility as the guardian angel of Israel (Dan 12:1).

Early Christianity inherited Jewish beliefs about angels, but the interest is much diminished. The angel of the Annunciation has a permanent place in Christian spirituality, but the New Testament tends if anything to put angels in their place. So in Hebrews 1, angels are inferior to the Son; in 1Cor 13:1 the eloquence of angels takes second place to love; and in 1P 1:12 the angels are seen as envying the Christian.

General Intercessions

- Lord, when your Church is persecuted, send it leaders who speak out in your name to encourage the fainthearted, we pray:

- Lord, when people are confused, send them messengers who enlighten them in your name, we pray:

- Lord, when people are in danger on their journey through life, send them angels to protect them, we pray

Prayer over the Gifts

God our Father,
you have sent here among us
your greatest messenger of your good news
and of your own life,
your Son Jesus Christ.
Accept in this offering our thanks
for all your angels and messengers
you send us to heal us from our illnesses
of body, mind and spirit
and who speak to us
words of love, hope and peace.
Thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

God our Father,
on account of Jesus Christ your Son
give us enough trust in you
to rely on you in all the events of life.
Make us welcome your angels and messengers ,
in sickness, in our weakness,
in our groping and hesitations.
Make us, in turn, to our brothers and sisters
helpers and messengers of your goodness and love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Blessing

We are certain that God protects and guides us through angels and good people who help us. May you rely on him and may God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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