Recently, the Hubble Telescope provided a photo of thousands of galaxies billions of light-years away, the farthest-ever view into our universe. We can’t see these galaxies with the naked eye, of course, but they’re there just the same.
We might say the same about angels. As we look about us, they’re invisible, but our telescope –the scriptures–say they’re there. The latest revelations from the Hubble Telescope may remind us there’s always more to this world than meets the eye.
In our feast today we celebrate three of the great angels mentioned in scripture: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Michael was involved in the cosmic battle of good angels versus bad angels. Gabriel was the messenger sent by God to announce to Mary the coming of God’s Son. Raphael was the angel who brings healing and guidance in the Book of Tobit. All three represent God’s power over evil, God’s saving action towards humanity and God’s healing and guidance.
Far from being uninvolved or distant from our world, God’s here among us, our scriptures indicate. Angels point to God’s closeness, love and concern. The Hubble Telescope seems to offer an unlimited universe, where no journey can be made. But Jesus in the gospel reveals to his disciple Nathaniel a bridge between heaven and earth:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
- Fr. Victor Hoagland, C.P.
