The Social Message of Archangels!

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels!

Dan 7:9-10,13-14 or Rev 12:7-12ab; Jn 1:47-51

The Feast of the Archangels invites us to be angelic forces in our own time. 

The very mention of the word ‘archangel’ may contradict the rationalistic spirit of our times. For the world peaked in science and technology, the stories of archangels as we read in the Scriptures may not mean much, especially at a time when knowledge has been reduced to sensory experience and whatever we cannot see, touch, or verify is hardly deemed knowledge. 

However, the eyes of faith would discover and understand that even in this world of advanced science and technology, the spiritual battles are real and remain the same. The meaning and message of the feast help us realize that we need Archangels as our warriors, messengers, and companions. Hence, we should not commit the mistake of looking only for historical figures and missing out on the spiritual role models that we find in the Archangels. As such, the celebration of the feast carries a lasting relevance and meaning for a Christian life. 

The names of the Archangels and their roles in Scripture remind us that each of them helps us fight and overcome a different dimension of our spiritual battles. 

Archangel Michael, the Warrior: The very name Michael means ‘Who is like God?’ In the Book of Revelation, we read about St. Michael’s battle against the dragon, which also represents the triumph of God over evil forces. While today, we do not wage the same kind of battles with mythical figures, there are overt and covert forms of attack on our faith. Externally, Christian faith is threatened by a raging and pervasive secularism that seeks to erase God from public life. By setting a narrative that religions in general are irrelevant and sometimes a disservice to society, a rigid secular outlook challenges the very identity and existence of Christian believers. Internally, those who claim to be religious tend to be hypocritical and at times become counter witnesses to the radicality of the Gospel message. At this juncture, St. Michael, the Archangel, reminds us that in our daily battles against the evils of modern times, we are not alone. Instead, he fights along with us. His example invites us to be defenders and warriors for God so that God’s love and justice will always triumph in the world. 

Archangel Gabriel, the Messenger: The name Gabriel means ‘God is my strength.’ Known as God’s Messenger and the Bearer of the Great Good News – the Incarnation of Jesus Christ – St. Gabriel invites us to carry God’s Truth in all its integrity and truthfulness. At a time when misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda have become the order of the day, we need the courage and integrity of St. Gabriel, who affirmed, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this Good News’ (Lk 1:19). Thus, when truth is sacrificed on the altar of lies, St. Gabriel shows that we can be beacons of hope just by bearing witness to God’s truth amid falsehood and fabrication. Hence, for a Christian, countering false narratives with God’s truth is a lifelong task and commitment. When sold-out media outlets spew the venom of hatred and revenge, Christians are called to propagate God’s love and forgiveness. St. Gabriel’s example becomes our model of imitation. 

Archangel Raphael, the Companion: The name Raphael means ‘God heals.’ In the Old Testament Book of Tobit, we read about the ‘Wayfarer,’ who hides his divine identity while accompanying Tobias as the latter is sent on his father Tobit’s mission to recover a large sum of money from a distant relative. This sacred story gave rise to a medieval practice in which whenever an adolescent or youth left home for the first time, he carried with him a small image of himself in the place of Tobias, accompanied by the Archangel. In my view, Archangel Raphael’s model of accompaniment is a much-needed missionary model today. In a culture of indifference, xenophobia, and exclusion, St. Raphael calls us to promote a culture of solidaristic love. He is a pioneer behind a culture of encounter, which Pope Francis put forward as a solution to many contemporary ills. Raphael means ‘God heals.’ Indeed, God heals and will continue to heal the world through us when we diligently embody the values of accompaniment, encounter, and solidarity.

In sum, all three archangels, in what they each fight for and symbolize, infuse hope into our lives. They inspire in us the conviction to challenge evil forces, to fight for God’s truth, and to be in solidarity with those who struggle in their lives. By what they each accomplish, they also offer convincing proof that religion is still a change agent and a force for good. 

Let us pray that we may imitate the example of the archangels to draw inspiration for our lives. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar