Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels

LECTIONARY
647

FIRST READING

DN 7:9-10, 13-14

As I watched:

Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.

The court was convened, and the books were opened.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw

One like a son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

PSALM

PS 138:1-2AB, 2CDE-3, 4-5

Response: In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.

Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.

All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O LORD
when they hear the words of your mouth;
And they shall sing of the ways of the LORD
“Great is the glory of the LORD

GOSPEL

JN 1:47-51

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
“Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him.”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this.”
And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Daily Reflection

The term “angel”, from the Latin “Angelus” denotes the office of spiritual beings and simply means a “Messenger”. The Archangels, whose feast we celebrate today are one of the 9 choirs of angels and their names denote their function: Michael protects, Gabriel announces and Raphael guides and heals.

The first reading from the book of Revelation shows Michael defending God’s faithful and defeating Satan. In the Gospel, Jesus introduces himself using the imagery of Jacob’s dream where Jacob saw a ladder spanning heaven and earth enabling angels to enter and leave the world. Identifying himself with Jacob, Jesus points out that:

- He is the place where heaven meets earth
- He is the House of God
- He is the mediator through whom the angels exercise their ministry

Although we are not archangels, our Baptism invites us to something similar – to announce the Good News like Gabriel, to protect the weak like Michael and to guide and heal the broken-hearted like Raphael.

Will you be God’s angel today?