God’s Messengers

"Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is and who is to come.’” (Revelation 4:8)

Today is the feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Throughout scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, angels are part of salvation history. They are messengers of God and they reveal his designs, carry out his commands and above, they sing his praises. The Liturgy of the Mass joins us to that of the angels in heaven. Not only do we make their hymn of praise our own, proclaiming that the Lord is holy, but in offering the sacrifice, we ask God “that your angel may take this sacrifice to your altar in heaven” (Eucharistic Prayer I). God sends his angels to minister to us. They enlighten our understanding and bring us to knowledge. They provide strength in our moments of weakness and they lead us to our place in heaven. 

Years ago, I had a mother share this story with me. She was a single mom and her only child, Alexandria, who was 5 years old at the time, had leukemia. When you are receiving chemotherapy and your blood counts are very low, there is a very high risk of getting an infection that can be life threatening. Alex was admitted to the hospital with a fever and was very sick. A few days into her stay she was doing much better and would be going home soon. Her mom told me that the night Alex was admitted to the hospital with fever, she went to check on her before going to bed and Alex was sitting up in bed mumbling. When mom felt her, she had a fever and she got their things together to go to the hospital. Later, Alex told her that on the night she had her fever and was so sick, that an angel was sitting at the end of her bed and was telling Alex that she was there to take Alex to heaven. Alex told the angel that she needed to stay here because her mom would be all alone if Alex left. The angel told her that would be fine and she could stay here a while longer and then the angel left. Alex told her mom very matter of fact about the angel and wasn’t scared about the incident. Her mother, on the other hand, was overwhelmed with many emotions. She was thankful that Alex was allowed to stay, she was terrified by how sick her daughter really was and how close to death she had been and she was comforted by the confirmation that there is a heaven, that there are angels that will lead us home to our Creator when that time comes and that it won’t be a scary thing.

I think angels are fascinating. They aren’t little chubby babies that flutter above our shoulder as they are so often portrayed but incredible beings. Angels minister to Christ after his temptation in the desert.

 An angel of the Lord releases the chains that held Peter bound in prison. The archangel Michael and his angels battle against the dragon in heaven. And there are so many more examples of encounters with angels throughout the bible. But for me, they are a perfect example of always giving glory to the only one who is worthy of praise. 

"I looked again and heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless in number and they cried out in a loud voice: 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.' Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: 'To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever.'" (Revelation 5:11-13)