Author: admin

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Revelation 12: 7-12:

War broke out in heaven;
Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.
The dragon and its angels fought back,
but they did not prevail
and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,
who is called the Devil and Satan,
who deceived the whole world,
was thrown down to earth,
and its angels were thrown down with it.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.
For the accuser of our brothers is cast out,
who accuses them before our God day and night.
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.
Therefore, rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Today we celebrate the feast of three of God’s most powerful angels: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.

Each of them plays a unique role in Scripture, and each offer us a point of reflection today.

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Let’s begin with the most powerful, the Archangel Michael, who will slay Satan at the end of time. As we heard in our first reading, “Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail.”

Michael reminds us that each of us is engaged in a spiritual battle for our soul; often the devil lays his snares at our feet in the form of temptation, seeking to ensnare us. 

It may come in the form of addiction, anger, or a person who tests our patience. What are some of those traps for me?

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The angel Gabriel is the one who declared to Mary, “Behold, you will conceive the Son of God in your womb.” He also announced to Zechariah that his wife, Sarah, would give birth to John the Baptist.

Gabriel reminds us to be receptive to God’s word … and to share it with others.

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Finally, there’s the angel Raphael, who disguises himself as a man in the Old Testament. He protects Tobias on his journey and heals Tobias’ father from blindness.

Raphael reminds us to be agents of healing for others.

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May the ministries of these angels – whom we shall meet some day – inspire us to be God’s agents in the world today.

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Image credits: (1) Catholic Digest, WordPress (2) Angel, Wikipedia (3) National Catholic Register

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Gospel: Luke 9: 57-62

As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding
on their journey, someone said to him,
“I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus answered him,
“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
And to another he said, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”
But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.”
And another said, “I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home.”
Jesus answered him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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While plowing, a farmer must remain focused on his path ahead. If he turns around and looks back, then he’ll end up carving zig-zag lines, ruining his fields.

It’s easier – and far more effective – to focus on the present moment than on the past or future. Only when you finish one row, do you move on to the next.

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Jesus tells us the same idea applies in discipleship. 

When following the Lord, we plow one row at a time; we can neither look back to the past nor be distracted by the future. 

Discipleship unfolds day by day.

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This also means that we avoid the world of “what ifs.” 

Sometimes we may wonder what life would be like if we never made a particular decision; if we raised our children differently; if we pursued a different career; or if we had come to faith earlier.

God is never in the world of “what ifs.” 

God is in the world of “what is.” … and “what will be.”

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Regardless of the lines we’ve ploughed in our past – for better or for worse – the Lord is directing our attention to the present while creating our future.

What might it look like for me to focus my attention on doing the Lord’s work today?

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Image credits: (1) Dream time.com (2) Wallpaper Flare (3) QuoteFancy

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Gospel: Luke 9: 51-56

When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?”
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Jesus is entering his final days. 

He’s now headed to Jerusalem, where he will be handed over by Judas and killed.

It’s a critical moment in his life and ministry. So, Saint Luke adds a descriptive detail to help paint the picture: facing Jerusalem, Jesus becomes “resolutely determined.” 

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We can imagine him staring off into the distance. 

Knowing what’s in store for him, he stiffens his face, draws a deep breath in, and courageously puts one foot in front of the other.

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Long before he suffers physically, Jesus feels the weight of his cross, the weight of the isolation and rejection held in store for him. 

Incredibly, this doesn’t sour his spirit; nor does it prevent him from doing good to others. 

Consider what happens in today’s Gospel. Jesus is rejected by the Samaritans – the sworn enemies of the Jews – which is why the disciples want to send down fire upon them. But Jesus leaves them alone, and I’d imagine, wishes them well.

He continues his humble march towards Jerusalem, healing and forgiving the sick and sinful along the way.

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What might Jesus be teaching us?

That it’s possible to be kind and to do good to others at every moment in our lives, even when we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders.

Regardless of what our circumstances may be today, may we turn our gaze upon others and love them as Jesus would. Doing so not only works for their benefit; it also edifies our own spirit.

So, what’s something I can do for the Lord and his people today?

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Image credits: (1) How God Anointed, Amazon (2) Liberty Church (3) TheRadicalLife.org, Mother Teresa