Glory be to Jesus Christ. It's not unusual when
listening to the radio or watching a TV program
to suddenly hear this announcement. we interrupt
our regular program to bring you this important
breaking news. Did you know that each time that
the Scriptures is proclaimed, it is breaking
important and relevant news? And did you also
know that Prior to the gospel reading in the
church, the deacon always proclaims as if it
were a command, wisdom, let us attend. And there
are some translations which read, let us be attentive.
Well, after hearing the word of God, are you
encouraged? Are you inspired? Are you nourished?
Or do you simply leave the church unchanged?
And unaffected. This morning I bring you breaking
and special news. The news about the feast day
of St. Michael the Archangel. And all the heavenly
hosts. And that the divine liturgy. We hear this
often overlooked. petition. An angel of peace,
a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and
bodies, let us ask of the Lord. From the opening
chapters of the Bible to the last book, there
are over 200 references to the work And ministry
of the angels. We may not always be alert. Or
sensitive to their presence. But I assure you.
They are far more involved. In your life. And
in my life. Than we realize. I could give you
a couple examples. Of how. The angel. Of mercy.
Protected me. When there was no hope. through
the findings of technology and science, we are
gradually learning more and more about the mysteries
of this material and physical life. Likewise,
the more we read in the scriptures or the more
we acquaint ourselves with the contents of the
scriptures. We learn more and more about the
role that angels play in the life of a Christian.
Now the scriptures tell us That God created heaven
and earth. And in the Nicene Creed we repeat.
I believe in one God. The creator of all things
visible and invisible. Before creating the visible
world. Our God created the heavens, the invisible
world, the world of angelic hopes or bodiless
powers. I want to tell that individual that the
angels didn't appear because of the Big Bang
Theory. The angels appeared because God created
them as ministers of flaming fire, as those who
minister to us. All angels were created as free
beings. And one of their primary functions is
to praise, glorify, and worship God at the throne
of mercy. Lucifer, however, out of pride and
arrogance, vain glory, rebelled against God,
and as reported in the 12th chapter of the last
book of the Bible, Revelations, he was cast out
from heaven by the archangel Michael. And Lucifer,
with all those who followed him, became the source
Of an evil and demonic power. Now Christ defeated
these demonic powers. But they still exist. They
exist as great deceivers. As dividers. Those
who separate us from God and from one another.
Those who create within the depths of our soul,
our being, temptation to resist the will and
the teachings of God. And we are told in very
specific ways, both in the epistle that Paul
wrote to the Romans, And in the sixth chapter
of Ephesians. That the struggle is not only against
flesh and blood. But listen carefully. But against
the rulers of darkness. Against malicious spiritual
forces. This feast day calls us to emulate the
angels. And as St. Paul wrote to his young colleague,
fight the good fight. Hold on to eternal life
to which you were called. And let us say to which
we were all called. As Christians. We have weapons.
Mighty weapons. To defend ourselves. The weapons.
Consisting of faith. The cross. And above all,
the sacraments. It's interesting to point out
that although there are limitless amount or numbers
of angels, three play a very active and prominent
role in the scriptures. The archangel Michael,
who was called the leader of the angelic host,
Archist Artigos. The Archangel Gabriel, the divine
messengers, who on a number of missions brought
the word to the Blessed Mother. That she was
chosen to be the mother of our Lord. He brought
the message to Zacharias. That he would have
a son named John. The forerunner and Baptist
of John. But the clearest example of a guardian
angel. appears when Raphael accompanies Tobias
on a long journey, protecting him from harm.
Now, as previously mentioned, angels offer praise,
glory, and worship. And we are to emulate these
things in our life. They are messengers of the
Old and New Testament. They appeared so many
times to Abraham, to Joseph, Moses. The Greek
word angelos means angels. Of. Merch. Excuse
me. Messengers of God. They go before us. With
us. Protecting. Guiding us. In our. Journey.
In this life. On one occasion, Jesus said to
his disciples, he who is not with me is against
me. These words are particularly apt in discussing
and defending the Christian way of life. When
it comes To Christ. You and I cannot be neutral.
In fact the Christian has no time. Where he could
say I'm not on duty. There is no time that he
could relax. Because the same Peter. Wrote in
his epistle. The demon goes about roaring about
like a lion seeking to devour us. Seeking to
trip us up. A Christian is never off duty. If
you want to be with Christ, then you must be
willing to follow him. To love him. With all
your heart, soul and mind. Only then. Are you
one with him. And with the angels. Whom we emulate.
And as we have in the liturgy every Sunday. So
clearly. And beautifully. To remind us. Let us
who mystically represent the cherubim. Sing to
the thrice holy. God. That thrice holy hymn.
That Isaiah experienced. When he saw the angels.
Singing holy, holy, holy. And the temple was
filled. With God. As we celebrate this feast
day. Let us renew our vocation. To carry. The
life giving message. Of salvation. And to do
God's will. Here on earth. As it is done in heaven.
By the angels and archangels and all the heavenly
hosts name of the Father the Son and the Holy
Spirit