Feast of St Michael 2015 - Fr Michael Margitich

Glory be to Jesus Christ. It's not unusual when

listening to the radio or watching a TV program

to suddenly hear this announcement. we interrupt

our regular program to bring you this important

breaking news. Did you know that each time that

the Scriptures is proclaimed, it is breaking

important and relevant news? And did you also

know that Prior to the gospel reading in the

church, the deacon always proclaims as if it

were a command, wisdom, let us attend. And there

are some translations which read, let us be attentive.

Well, after hearing the word of God, are you

encouraged? Are you inspired? Are you nourished?

Or do you simply leave the church unchanged?

And unaffected. This morning I bring you breaking

and special news. The news about the feast day

of St. Michael the Archangel. And all the heavenly

hosts. And that the divine liturgy. We hear this

often overlooked. petition. An angel of peace,

a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and

bodies, let us ask of the Lord. From the opening

chapters of the Bible to the last book, there

are over 200 references to the work And ministry

of the angels. We may not always be alert. Or

sensitive to their presence. But I assure you.

They are far more involved. In your life. And

in my life. Than we realize. I could give you

a couple examples. Of how. The angel. Of mercy.

Protected me. When there was no hope. through

the findings of technology and science, we are

gradually learning more and more about the mysteries

of this material and physical life. Likewise,

the more we read in the scriptures or the more

we acquaint ourselves with the contents of the

scriptures. We learn more and more about the

role that angels play in the life of a Christian.

Now the scriptures tell us That God created heaven

and earth. And in the Nicene Creed we repeat.

I believe in one God. The creator of all things

visible and invisible. Before creating the visible

world. Our God created the heavens, the invisible

world, the world of angelic hopes or bodiless

powers. I want to tell that individual that the

angels didn't appear because of the Big Bang

Theory. The angels appeared because God created

them as ministers of flaming fire, as those who

minister to us. All angels were created as free

beings. And one of their primary functions is

to praise, glorify, and worship God at the throne

of mercy. Lucifer, however, out of pride and

arrogance, vain glory, rebelled against God,

and as reported in the 12th chapter of the last

book of the Bible, Revelations, he was cast out

from heaven by the archangel Michael. And Lucifer,

with all those who followed him, became the source

Of an evil and demonic power. Now Christ defeated

these demonic powers. But they still exist. They

exist as great deceivers. As dividers. Those

who separate us from God and from one another.

Those who create within the depths of our soul,

our being, temptation to resist the will and

the teachings of God. And we are told in very

specific ways, both in the epistle that Paul

wrote to the Romans, And in the sixth chapter

of Ephesians. That the struggle is not only against

flesh and blood. But listen carefully. But against

the rulers of darkness. Against malicious spiritual

forces. This feast day calls us to emulate the

angels. And as St. Paul wrote to his young colleague,

fight the good fight. Hold on to eternal life

to which you were called. And let us say to which

we were all called. As Christians. We have weapons.

Mighty weapons. To defend ourselves. The weapons.

Consisting of faith. The cross. And above all,

the sacraments. It's interesting to point out

that although there are limitless amount or numbers

of angels, three play a very active and prominent

role in the scriptures. The archangel Michael,

who was called the leader of the angelic host,

Archist Artigos. The Archangel Gabriel, the divine

messengers, who on a number of missions brought

the word to the Blessed Mother. That she was

chosen to be the mother of our Lord. He brought

the message to Zacharias. That he would have

a son named John. The forerunner and Baptist

of John. But the clearest example of a guardian

angel. appears when Raphael accompanies Tobias

on a long journey, protecting him from harm.

Now, as previously mentioned, angels offer praise,

glory, and worship. And we are to emulate these

things in our life. They are messengers of the

Old and New Testament. They appeared so many

times to Abraham, to Joseph, Moses. The Greek

word angelos means angels. Of. Merch. Excuse

me. Messengers of God. They go before us. With

us. Protecting. Guiding us. In our. Journey.

In this life. On one occasion, Jesus said to

his disciples, he who is not with me is against

me. These words are particularly apt in discussing

and defending the Christian way of life. When

it comes To Christ. You and I cannot be neutral.

In fact the Christian has no time. Where he could

say I'm not on duty. There is no time that he

could relax. Because the same Peter. Wrote in

his epistle. The demon goes about roaring about

like a lion seeking to devour us. Seeking to

trip us up. A Christian is never off duty. If

you want to be with Christ, then you must be

willing to follow him. To love him. With all

your heart, soul and mind. Only then. Are you

one with him. And with the angels. Whom we emulate.

And as we have in the liturgy every Sunday. So

clearly. And beautifully. To remind us. Let us

who mystically represent the cherubim. Sing to

the thrice holy. God. That thrice holy hymn.

That Isaiah experienced. When he saw the angels.

Singing holy, holy, holy. And the temple was

filled. With God. As we celebrate this feast

day. Let us renew our vocation. To carry. The

life giving message. Of salvation. And to do

God's will. Here on earth. As it is done in heaven.

By the angels and archangels and all the heavenly

hosts name of the Father the Son and the Holy

Spirit