HAPPY FEAST DAY!
INTRODUCTION
Three Archangels are identified by name in Scripture, Saints Michael (Who is like God), Gabriel (The Power of God), and Raphael (God Heals.) Today, September 29 is their feast day. Angels are pure spirits, but sometimes may appear in human form to talk to us who are in human in nature of body and spirit.
MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 12:7-9
GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”… Luke 1:26-33
RAPHAEL THE ARCHANGEL
Tobit the father of Tobias was blinded by the droppings of a bird. Tobit and his son were righteous men in God’s eyes. Tobit wanted his son to marry Sarah. Tobias was hesitant because Sarah had already married seven husbands and they all died.
But Tobit and his son both trusted in God. Tobit because he was blind instructed Tobias to hire a guide to accompany him on the journey; so Tobias enlisted the assistance of Azariah, who was really the archangel Raphael in disguise
When Tobias and Azariah reached the Tigris River, Tobias stopped to wash. As he knelt on the bank, a great fish leapt out of the water and frightened him. Raphael instructed Tobias to seize the fish by the fins, kill it, and remove its heart, liver and gallbladder.
He revealed to Tobias that burning the heart and liver would drive away evil spirits, that possessed Sarah and that the gallbladder could cure blindness. So Tobias salted the organs to preserve them, and wrapped them safely for their journey.
“When the wedding celebration came to an end, Tobit called his son Tobiah and said to him, “Son, see to it that you pay his wages to the man who made the journey with you and give him a bonus too.” Tobiah said: “Father, how much shall I pay him? …He led me back safe and sound, healed my wife, brought the money back with me, and healed you. How much should I pay him?”….Raphael called the two of them aside privately and said to them: “Bless God and give him thanks before all the living for the good things he has done for you, by blessing and extolling his name. Proclaim before all with due honor the deeds of God, do not be slack in thanking him. Tobit 12:1-6
CONCLUSION
Raphael has been called the Patron of Healing. also the patron of the blind, of nurses, of physicians and of travelers. Read the Book of Tobit. I believe you will enjoy another deliverance story of God’s people.
PRAYER TO THE ARCHANGELS
Heavenly King, You have given us archangels to assist us during our pilgrimage on earth. Saint Michael is our protector; I ask him to come to my aid, fight for all my loved ones, and protect us from danger.
Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good News; I ask him to help me clearly hear Your voice and to teach me the truth.
Saint Raphael is the healing angel; I ask him to take my need for healing and that of everyone I know, lift it up to Your throne of grace and deliver back to us the gift of recovery.
Help us, O Lord, to realize more fully the reality of the archangel and their desire to serve us. Holy angels, pray for us. Amen.