Angels with Us
Feast of Michael, Gabriel, Raphael
We can recall in our life that something did not happen or took place with some invisible help.
For example, I just missed a car accident by an instinctive stop or looking back I acted something that saved my life without my knowledge. Things like these make us think that someone out there helps us.
The help could be called angels as we celebrate the feast of Michael, Gabriel, Raphael Archangels.
The images of angels are different but most of them have wings and some special powers that make them superior over people.
Thomas Aquinas one of the greatest theologians explained that there are three beings, that is, God, human and angels. Angels are a being between God and human, so it is mediators and messangers.
God sends forth angeles to deliver the message and the mission defines what kind of angels are.
For example, Michael means 'who is like God?' in battle against Lucifer and his followers when they rebelled against God.
Gabriel means 'God's strength' in announcement of the birth of John the Baptist to his father Zacharias, and at the Incarnation of the Word in the womb of Mary.
Raphael means 'God has healed' because of his healing of Tobias' blindness in the Book of Tobit.
Angels exist for us including guardian angels whom God sends out to protect all God's people.
I love the psalm 8 that says,
"When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and stars that you set in place.
What is man that you are mindful of him,
and a son of man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him little less than a god,
crowned him with glory and honor"(Ps 8,4-6).
We are God's beloved ones, so God is always mindful and caring for us. Even though we are little less than a god, we are better than angels in some ways.
We love and feel unlike angels because they are spiritual beings that do not have human ability and joy. That's why devil always wants us to be seperated from God's love through falling into temptations.
Angels are with us even though we cannot see. Let us pray.
My good Angel, Thou comest from heaven; God has sent thee to take care of me. Oh, shelter me under thy wings. Lighten my path, direct my steps. Do not leave me, stay quite near me and defend me against the spirit of evil.
But above all come to my help in the last struggle of my life. Deliver my soul so that with thee it may praise, love and contemplate the goodness of God forever and ever. Amen (Prayer to the Guardian Angels)
