An elderly woman dressed in ordinary clothes and wearing a ragged sweater walked into the showroom of an automobile dealer. The group of sales persons who were gathered in the corner chuckled. No one wanted to serve the old woman because they knew she would be looking for the cheapest used car on the lot. So they pushed the rookie salesperson to deal with her. He was surprised that she wanted to look at the most expensive new car in the showroom. Without any haggling, she took out her checkbook and wrote a check for the full sales amount. The sales people were shocked. Little did they know that this woman was one of the wealthiest persons in town. They were not able to see beneath the shabby appearances and recognize the millions of dollars that sat inside the woman’s checkbook.
We humans are stuck on appearances. Trusting only in our limited vision and thoughts, we are unable to see the fullness of the world that surrounds us. One of the realities that surround us are the angels. Today we celebrate the feast day of three great archangels—Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
We are told by the prophet Daniel (7:9-14) that,
“Thousands upon thousands were ministering to (God) and myriads upon myriads attended him.”
This means there are more angels surrounding God than our calculators can keep up with. Many of these are assigned as guardian angels to each of us humans.
We are told of a battalion of angels who are fighting off the devil. (Revelation 12:7-12).
“War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon and its angels fought back, but they did no prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven…the Devil…was thrown down to earth…”
The war of all wars is underway and God’s warrior angels, under the leadership of Michael, are winning decisively. Under the command of God they cleaned heaven free of all rebellious angels, and continue to clean God’s kingdom on earth of the same. Weak and sinful as we are, do we realize who we have fighting for us on behalf of our heavenly Father. What a powerful “checkbook” we have to work with!
Then we read from Psalm 138 (1-5).
“I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart…in the presence of angels I will sing your praise.”
When we go to Mass, join with a prayer group, or pray alone in our homes we are surrounded with the presence of angels. Our prayer is mingled with theirs to become a powerful act of worship to God. Our simple efforts at prayer are supported by the powerful presence of angels who stand directly before the throne of God in heaven. We are a small part of the choir that is filling the universe with the praises of God. Let’s open our eyes of faith to see what we are truly part of.
Jesus told the disciple Nathanael (John 1:47-51) that he would be given the gift to see angels.
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Today we ask that our eyes of faith expand to see the heavenly choirs that surround us. We ask Nathanael to pray for us that we too will be able to see “the angels of God ascending and descending on Jesus” as he lives in his Body on earth.
“Bless the Lord, all you angels, you ministers, who do his will” (Ps 103:21).
