Gabriel: Strength of God. What mother will not feel blessed knowing that's the meaning of her son's name? I pray my Gabriel will live up to his name, be a blessing to others, and become whatever God wanted him to be. Here in this photo, he went with me across the street where we live, to buy vegies for laswa. He gamely carried that plastic bag which contained papaya, squash, okra etc. It was quite heavy, he was actually limping while walking. Gabriel is happy child. That alone tells me he's growing to be the angel that he is.
As it is Archangel Gabriel's feast today, I am sharing this article below sent to me by Kerygmafamily.com Thanks Bo! (Naks naman)
ANGELS OR SAINTS: WHICH IS BETTER?
Though their names are introduced with the title Saints, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are not human beings. Only human beings can become saints. They are archangels, meaning they are angels each entrusted by God with a special mission. Angels are generally 'messengers.' The word 'angelos' is the Greek word for 'messenger.'
Michael, whose name means 'Who is like God?,' leads the host of angels who chose to serve God. His opponent is Lucifer. We can read the battle between Michael and his angels versus Lucifer and his devils in the Book of Revelation. Michael's name reminds us that God is one and like no other.
Gabriel's name means 'Strength of God.' We remember his two visits in the New Testament: one to Zechariah and the other to Mary. True to his name, his first visit opened the dry womb of the barren woman, Elizabeth, who gave birth to John the Baptist in her old age. His second visit revealed the strength of God in making a virgin conceive His Only Begotten Son. We also recall that the strength of God made Zachariah unable to speak because of his unbelief.
Raphael, meaning 'God's medicine,' is the archangel who assisted Tobias in his journey. He likewise healed Tobit, Tobias' blind father, and gave Tobias a wife whose name was Sarah.
Tradition has it that there are other archangels, but only these three are mentioned in the Bible in relation to the special task given to them by God or their special roles in the history of salvation.
Once during a retreat I attended, our spiritual director mentioned that there are three sins of the fallen angels. The first is their rejection to serve God. The second is their refusal to worship the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, in His incarnated form. The third is their envy of us, human beings, who are loved by God so much so that He gave us even His Son. We are not angels and archangels. But we are loved by God more than we know. He gave us His only Son who became one like us, NOT LIKE THE ANGELS, in all things but sin so that in becoming like us we may become like Him. What a priceless gift! We are destined to become like Jesus. We are not angels. We are saints. Which do you think is better? Fr. Bobby T.
REFLECTION QUESTION: Jesus chose to become a human being, not an angel.
Thank You, Jesus, for choosing to become one like me in all things, but sin. By Your grace, help me to become like You. I look forward to see You, to live with You, and worship You forever, together with all the angels and the saints. Amen.
St. Theodota, martyr, pray for us.
