Daily Reflection Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels

Angels occur throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Jesus himself speaks of them often, as he does in today’s gospel passage from the first chapter of John. There is a whole division of theology dedicated to their study called angelology. They have traditionally been placed in a hierarchy that basically consists of cherubim and seraphim (seraphim being the highest order who are near the “throne of God”), although in Judaism there are several other angelic hierarchies. They are spiritual beings traditionally seen as God’s messengers and helpers to the human race.

Whenever talk turns to angels, I always think of a humorous story from my novitiate days. When the plans to build the Jesuit theologate in Woodstock, Maryland were sent to Rome in the late 19^th Century, the Vatican famously sent the Maryland Jesuits a reply that simply asked, “Suntne angeli?” That is Latin for, Are they angels? Because the architects had neglected to include bathrooms in the plans! The solution was to add them all to the very top floor, so that whenever the scholastics had need, they were forced to climb up to five flights of stairs!

Everyone loves angels (think of your Guardian Angel), especially at Christmas since the archangel Gabriel brought the good news to Mary, the Blessed Mother, and the angel (probably a cherub) announced to the simple shepherds Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem after which all the angels sang to them according to that majestic verse of Luke’s telling us (in the old KJV), “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” As Linus told them, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!”

But we can’t make this entire reflection on angels, I’m afraid, since I don’t know enough about them and it gets complicated. Let’s simply look at the call of Nathanial (perhaps Bartholomew of the synoptics) in today’s gospel passage. Nathanial had been highly dubious when Philip told him that they (he, Andrew and Simon, Andrew’s brother) had found the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanial sarcastically asks, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” But he went with them anyway and when Jesus saw him approaching, he told Nathanial that he was “an Israelite without guile.” For John’s gospel would state later that Jesus never needed anyone to tell him anything about anyone, because he knew their hearts. But here, it seems that Jesus knows even more than that. When Nathanial asks, incredulously we must surmise, “How do you know me?” Jesus tells him that he saw him under the fig tree before Philip had called him. Obviously, Nathanial must have been pondering something profound either about himself or life or something under that fig tree, because he immediately proclaims Jesus the son of God (that is, the Messiah) and the king of Israel.

And Jesus tells him that he will see even greater things than that, telling him that Jesus himself will be the fulfillment of the ancient prophecy in Genesis 28:10 of Jacob’s ladder (“Be sure, I am with you!”). He himself will be the very bridge, the melding of heaven and earth (“the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man”). In telling this to Nathanial, Jesus is telling it to us all. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

So let us pray that we will follow him because he alone knows the way, he alone is the way.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me,

and delivered me from all my fears.

Look to him, and be radiant;

so that your faces may not blush with shame.

This poor soul cried out, and was heard by the LORD,

and was saved from every trouble.

The angel of the LORD encamps

around those who fear him, and delivers them.

O taste and see how good is the LORD;

happy are those who take refuge in him. (Ps 34)