Today we celebrate the feast of the Archangels, Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel. In the 1990s just before the turn of the millennium, New Age spirituality and angels suddenly became very popular. Whenever I visited the States during that time the stores were full of pictures, posters, and images of angels. At that time, there was a very popular TV series that ran from 1994 to 2003, nine years, Touched by An Angel. That New Age spirituality or natural religiosity looks at God as a distant clock repairman who occasionally puts a mini screwdriver into the works to fix things that are out of kilter. That action or presence is momentary. From that viewpoint, angels are sort of like the mini screwdriver. Overall, we tend to think of angels as spiritual beings with large halos, wings, and lots of light who very rarely have contact with humans.
The Biblical image of angels is very different. Throughout the Bible angels provide an intimate connection between God and humans. They are constantly present the overall story of salvation as it is told in the Bible. They serve as messengers, guides, protectors, and agents of God’s judgement. They are an integral part of God’s care for his creation and have significant roles in God’s plan for salvation. The image of God in the Bible is that of a creator and father who is constantly reaching out to creation and to humans. God is in constant communication with creation.
The archangels proclaim different aspects of God’s care for us. The name Michael means “Who is like God” and is associated with a defender and a protector. The name Raphael means “God has healed” and is associated with guidance and healing. The name Gabriel means “God is my strength” and is associated with communication and strength.
From a traditional point of view, God uses the Church, the sacraments, the Word of God, doctrine, and tradition to make himself known to us. But it is also important to remember that God constantly uses angels, people, historical events, personal experiences, family, the local Christian community, nature, and the cycle of the seasons as forms of communication to insert himself into our lives and to care for us. Angels can take on many forms. An encounter with an angel is not limited to an overpowering experience of light and power as Moses had with the burning bush. Look at Tobias who had a guide at his side all through his travels and difficulties without even realizing it. Look at Joseph who had the counsels and wisdom of God through his dreams. Look at Elisha who heard God in the whispering wind.
It is important to be attentive to the action of God in our lives through all the different forms of action that angels can choose. This is our joy as Christians: to live in the protection and care that God provides for us. We can see how the first Christian communities lived in the joy of that constant protection and presence of God in their lives from the ancient hymn in today’s first reading. God’s action in their lives and the resurrection changed their lives profoundly to the point that they no longer feared death. They were living with the angels sharing in the victory over sin in their own lives.
They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
love for life did not deter them from death.
Image: CANVA CJ Dunn 27 September 2026 AI Generated.