Our readings today on this Feast of the Archangels, reflect on this figure called the Son of Man. In our first reading Daniel describes his heavenly vision. He sees God, called the “Ancient One”, with thousands of angels ministering to him. Then Daniel sees “One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven…He received dominion, glory, and kingship.”
In today’s Gospel Jesus identifies himself as this Son of Man in his dialogue with Nathanael:
Nathanael: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Jesus as the Son of Man is this divine figure that appears in the vision of Daniel. Jesus is also the “ladder of Jacob” who provides access to heaven and the one true God:
“Jacob departed from Beersheba…he came upon a certain place, he stopped there for the night, since the sun had already set. Taking one of the stones at the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. Then he had a dream: a stairway rested on the ground, with its top reaching to the heavens; and God’s angels were going up and down on it.” (Genesis 28:10-12)
Jesus is the ladder or stairway that gives us access to God as St. Paul teaches:
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2).
While angels and archangels all have their place as servants of God, our focus should always remain on Jesus, the Son of Man who came into the world to reveal to us the one true God and who will come again in glory on the clouds of heaven at the end of time.
“Of the angels he says: ‘He makes his angels winds and his ministers a fiery flame’; but of the Son: ‘Your throne, O God, stands forever and ever; and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom. you loved justice and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions.’” (Hebrews 1:7-9)
Image: “Archangels Collage” by Art4TheGlryOfGod by Sharon is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.