“There is No Duplicity in Him” (Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael)
There are many things we associate when he hear somebody saying, “San Miguel.” It could be a name or a family name of someone, a place, a team in the PBA, or the famous beer here in the Philippines. On this day, we are celebrating the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. The Bible mentioned about angels and their roles in the history of salvation. But among them, three are distinguished by names. Michael is mentioned in the Book of Revelation who led the armies of heaven to battle against the dragon called the Devil and Satan. Gabriel is the only one mentioned in the Gospel. Luke names him as the Messenger from God to announce the Incarnation of the Son of God. Raphael is mentioned in the Book of Tobit as one who accompanies Tobiah, the son of Tobit on a long journey and healed Tobit from his blindness. The Church has never canonized angels. If we pay liturgical honor to the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, we give them the title ‘Saint’ because they have always been with God in heaven as with all the others who are proclaimed saints.
“Our Lord looks into the heart and does not judge by appearances.”
In the Gospel we hear Jesus affirming Nathanael whom he called a true Israelite without duplicity or guile in his heart. As soon as Jesus saw Philip bringing Nathanael before him, Jesus immediately noticed the virtue that this man, Nathanael lived and possessed. Our Lord looks into the heart and does not judge by appearances. His gaze penetrated the heart of Nathanael on that occasion of their meeting. Indeed, Jesus pierces into the motives of our hearts even though they are kept hidden from others. Our Lord is the first one to know if we are true to the faith and the commitment that we have taken upon ourselves, if we are faithful to the dictates of our conscience and obey God’s promptings.
As we celebrate today the holy service of these archangels, we also look into their honest and guileless love for God’s most holy will. With fidelity, Gabriel faithfully delivered the most important messages from God for Zechariah and Mary. Raphael came to the aid of the people in the Old Testament as prompted to him by God. Michael wrestled with Lucifer and cast him out of heaven. For these archangels, there is not any duplicity of heart. God asks them a favor and they truly fulfill it. For us, how are we fulfilling the daily demands of our Christian and religious life? Are we as focused and straightforward to do God’s will in our lives?
We thank the Lord for the example of these three archangels. These holy angels continue to help us in our journey towards the Lord. As we honor them, we are also reminded of our vocation to which God has called all of us by virtue of our Baptism: to be authentic and guileless witnesses in our world today. In word and action, we, like the angels, serve God, and bear His message of love to everyone. All of us are called to be messengers of the Good News, healers for those who are sick in various ways, and warriors against evil and sin. We ask for the grace from the Lord that we may resolve to be His tireless instruments so that many may come to praise Him for all eternity.
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