Sermon – Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels (John 1:47-51) – September 29, 2026

Today, as a church, we celebrate with great joy the feast of the three great archangels, Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, and Saint Raphael.

They are messengers of God. They have been sent to fulfill God's will and to show mankind His love, protection, and salvation.

In the modern version of the Bible, Jesus encounters Nathanael and says to him:

Here's a real Israeli, without any pretense!

Nathanael, surprised, asks Jesus, "How do you know me?"

Jesus tells him that he saw Philip under the fig tree before Philip called him.

Then Nathanael recognized who Jesus was and said, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

But Jesus promises him something even greater:

You will see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.

These words remind us that Jesus is the bridge between heaven and earth. God approaches us through Jesus Christ. Angels are messengers who serve God's will and play a role in His plan of salvation.

Today, on the feast day of the archangels, let's reflect on three important messages they carry for our lives.

Saint Michael: God's power against evil.

The name Michael means, "Who is like God?"

Saint Michael reminds us that God is greater than all evil and that our true strength comes from God.

Today we face wars, injustices, divisions, and many evils. But sometimes our greatest struggle is within our own hearts: pride, selfishness, anger, hatred, unforgiveness, and despair.

Saint Michael calls us to fight against evil. But this fight should not be waged with violence or hatred, but with faith, prayer, love, and forgiveness.

His message is clear: we must put God at the center of our lives and trust in His power.

The Holy Gabriel: The courage to proclaim the Word of God.

The name Gabriel means "God is my power."

Saint Gabriel is the angel who announced God's great plan of salvation to Mary. He informed Mary that she would give birth to the Messiah.

Gabriel teaches us to listen to the Word of God and to proclaim it courageously.

Like Mary, we too are called to say "Yes" to God's plan, even if we don't always fully understand it .

Today, our world needs Christians who are not afraid to live their faith and bear witness to the Gospel of Christ.

Proclaiming the good news is not just about talking about God; it is also about showing our love for God through our actions.

We can be witnesses of Christ by carrying love, compassion, righteousness, and hope in our families, our communities, and wherever we are.

Saint Raphael: God's healing and accompanying presence.

The name Rafael means "God heals."

In the Book of Tobias, Saint Raphael accompanies Tobias on his journey and becomes an agent of God's protection and healing power.

We are all on a journey. Throughout our lives, we may encounter illnesses, sorrows, disappointments, loneliness, and various challenges.

Sometimes we may feel like we no longer have the strength to continue.

Saint Raphael reminds us that God never abandons his children.

Especially during our most difficult times, He walks with us. He gives us comfort, strength, and healing.

We too are called to be instruments of God’s healing love for others: to give hope to the sick, to comfort the suffering, to befriend the lonely, and to help those in need.

The heavens are open to us.

In the modern Bible, Jesus says to Nathanael: “You will see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

This promise is not just for Natanael; it is a source of hope for us too.

The heavens are not closed. God is not far from our reality. He draws near to us and protects and helps us through His angels.

Archangels remind us that our lives are not solely about the anxieties of this world. We are human beings walking towards heaven, towards God, and towards eternal life.

But there is something we especially need to remember today: at the center of the Bible is Jesus Christ, not angels.

Angels guide us not to themselves, but to God and Jesus Christ. For Jesus is our path to the Father. He is our Savior and Lord.

May Saint Michael give us the strength to resist evil today.

May the Archangel Gabriel grant us the courage to proclaim the Word of God.

May Saint Raphael accompany us on our journey through life and guide us towards God's healing love .

Like Nathanael, let us truly know Jesus Christ and declare with faith: “You are the Son of God! You are our Lord and Savior!”

May the holy archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael pray for us .