From the Pastor’s Desk:

This week we are celebrating the three great Archangels: Gabriel, Michael and Raphael. To begin with, angels are pure spirits created by God. The belief in angels is found in the Old Testament theology. They are employed by God as the ministers of God’s will. St. Augustine speaks of angels: “Angel is the name of their office, not of their nature, it is ‘spirit’; if you seek the name of their office, it is ’angel’: from what they are, ‘spirit,’ from what they do, ‘angel.’” The whole being of angels are servants and messengers of God. According to Jesus in Matthew 18:10, angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven they are the “mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word.” God's mightiest angels, the most powerful spiritual beings, are the archangels whom we are honoring and celebrating this coming Tuesday. While the exact amount of archangels is debated among different faiths, this Tuesday we are celebrating the three archangels who specialize in different types of work helping humanity, and they are considered by many believers to be the most important archangels. They are: ♦ Michael, who leads all of the holy angels, often works on missions that involve fighting evil, proclaiming God's truth, and strengthening people's faith. ♦ Gabriel, who communicates God's most important announcements to humans, specializes in helping people understand God's messages and apply them to their lives well. ♦ Raphael, who serves as God's main healing angel, cares for the health of people, animals, and every other part of God's creation. Angels have been present since creation and throughout the history of salvation, announcing this salvation. In the scriptures they are seen closing the earthly paradise, protecting Lot, saving Hagar and her son, stopped Abraham from scarifying his son, announcing the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. The list from the scriptures could go on. In our liturgies we join with the angels and saints to adore and praise God. As we pray at the end of a funeral, “May the angels lead you into Paradise..” Here on earth we children of God share our faith in the blessed company of angels united in God.