26th Week in Ordinary Time : Monday 29th September 2025

The feast day of the archangels, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, direct our attention that all of their names end with “el”. It is the Jewish reference to God as Elohim. Thus, all three names bear references to God.

Michael means “One like God”. In the Book of Apocalypse, he leads the heavenly host of angels to battle Satan and minions. He is appropriately regarded as the patron saint of soldiers. Gabriel means “Might of God”. He appeared to Mary and Zechariah to announce the good news of the birth of the Messiah and his herald respectively. He is also mentioned in the Book of Daniel to explain some of the prophets’ visions. Raphael means “Healing of God”. He is mentioned in the Book of Tobit where he heals Tobias of his blindness, protects Sarah from the demon Asmodeus and guides Tobias in his journey.

All three heavenly beings were to assist humanity. They confer blessings that God endows on those called. Nathanael is an example who is mentioned today. Nathanael’s name means “Gift of God” and Jesus affirmed him as “an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit.” Thus the “gift of God” is “incapable of deceit.” This makes sense as God is Truth. The Lord promised Nathanael that he will be granted the vision of Jacob in the desert: “heaven laid open and the above, the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending” (Gen 28:12).

PRAYER Lord, let Your Archangels guide us to aid the weary and vulnerable.