2021년 9월 29일 성 미카엘, 성 가브리엘, 성 라파엘 대천사 축일
오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp
제1독서
<그분을 시중드는 이가 백만이었다.>
다니엘 예언서. 7,9-10.13-14<또는 묵시 12,7-12ㄱ>
마침내 옥좌들이 놓이고 연로하신 분께서 자리에 앉으셨다.
그분의 옷은 눈처럼 희고 머리카락은 깨끗한 양털 같았다.
그분의 옥좌는 불꽃 같고 옥좌의 바퀴들은 타오르는 불 같았다.
10 불길이 강물처럼 뿜어 나왔다. 그분 앞에서 터져 나왔다.
그분을 시중드는 이가 백만이요 그분을 모시고 선 이가 억만이었다.
법정이 열리고 책들이 펴졌다.
13 내가 이렇게 밤의 환시 속에서 앞을 보고 있는데
사람의 아들 같은 이가 하늘의 구름을 타고 나타나
연로하신 분께 가자 그분 앞으로 인도되었다.
14 그에게 통치권과 영광과 나라가 주어져
모든 민족들과 나라들, 언어가 다른 모든 사람들이 그를 섬기게 되었다.
그의 통치는 영원한 통치로서 사라지지 않고 그의 나라는 멸망하지 않는다.
복음
<너희는 하느님의 천사들이 사람의 아들 위에서 오르내리는 것을 보게 될 것이다.>
요한. 1,47-51
그때에 47 예수님께서는 나타나엘이 당신 쪽으로 오는 것을 보시고
그에 대하여 말씀하셨다.
“보라, 저 사람이야말로 참으로 이스라엘 사람이다.
저 사람은 거짓이 없다.”
48 나타나엘이 예수님께 “저를 어떻게 아십니까?” 하고 물으니,
예수님께서 그에게 “필립보가 너를 부르기 전에,
네가 무화과나무 아래에 있는 것을 내가 보았다.” 하고 대답하셨다.
49 그러자 나타나엘이 예수님께 말하였다.
“스승님, 스승님은 하느님의 아드님이십니다.
이스라엘의 임금님이십니다.”
50 예수님께서 나타나엘에게 이르셨다.
“네가 무화과나무 아래에 있는 것을 보았다고 해서 나를 믿느냐?
앞으로 그보다 더 큰 일을 보게 될 것이다.”
51 이어서 그에게 또 말씀하셨다.
“내가 진실로 진실로 너희에게 말한다.
너희는 하늘이 열리고
하느님의 천사들이 사람의 아들 위에서 오르내리는 것을 보게 될 것이다.”
September 29, 2021
Feast of Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel and Saint Raphael, archangels
Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass
Reading 1
Dn 7:9-10, 13-14
Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened, and the books were opened.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw
One like a son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
or
Rv 12:7-12ab
Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.
The dragon and its angels fought back,
but they did not prevail
and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,
who is called the Devil and Satan,
who deceived the whole world,
was thrown down to earth,
and its angels were thrown down with it.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.
For the accuser of our brothers is cast out,
who accuses them before our God day and night.
They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
love for life did not deter them from death.
Therefore, rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them."
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 4-5
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O LORD
when they hear the words of your mouth;
And they shall sing of the ways of the LORD
"Great is the glory of the LORD
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Gospel
Jn 1:47-51
"Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a very clear grasp of angelology. In preparing this reflection, I thought about how the pop culture I have consumed portrays angels. Sometimes they are like superpowered aliens (whether benevolent, power-hungry, or naïve). Sometimes they portray reflections of humanity. Then I thought about angels in church culture and scripture, including in today’s readings. Angels are non-corporeal spiritual beings according to the catechism (#328), unlike us humans who are corporeal spiritual beings. Sometimes they are protectors, like the statues on churches and Guardian Angels. Sometimes they are joyful, gentle, and comforting, like in the funeral prayers when they greet and lead souls into paradise. Often they are cosmically powerful, like Michael and the hosts (armies) of heaven fighting against Satan in an option for today’s first reading. When they show up, the first thing they often say is “be not afraid,” which implies that the natural first reaction to seeing them is fear. At the Nativity they point the shepherds to Christ and sing the first carol, “Glory to God in the highest!” which, along with their song “Holy, holy, holy” in Revelation, we are invited to join them in singing at every Sunday Mass and feast day. Nearly always, they are worshipping and praising God and Christ, like in the readings from Revelation, Psalm 138, and the Gospel of John today.
I may not know a lot of angelology, but I love etymology, especially etymology of names. The word “angel” comes from the Hebrew word “messenger.” The angels in scripture are messengers for God, or their appearance points people to God and Christ. The ones who are named, like the archangels of today’s feast, communicate something about God in their names. Michael is the protector of Israel in Daniel and the leader of heaven’s armies in today’s reading from Revelation. And yet, for such a powerful being, Michael does not claim power. His name points beyond himself to God in a rhetorical question: “Who is like God?” Raphael appears as Tobias’ traveling companion in the book of Tobit. Raphael – “God heals” – leads Tobias not just to cure his father Tobit’s optical blindness, but also to healing relationships through his journey. Finally, Gabriel most clearly acts as a messenger, interpreting prophecies of Daniel and announcing the births of both John the Baptist and Jesus. In Islamic tradition, Gabriel also dictated the Qur’an to Muhammad. But Gabriel’s name means “God is my strong one” or “God is my hero,” pointing to dependence on God. I find it especially beautiful that “God is my strong one” receives Mary’s “yes” to complete dependence on God, and that he announces God’s arrival as an infant, utterly dependent on Mary and not strong at all. It lays the foundation for Paul’s line: “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
We join the choirs of angels and the communion of saints in praising God every time we participate in the Eucharistic liturgy. Today, I invite you to consider how you might follow in the archangels’ paths of praise. How might we point beyond ourselves, giving God the glory even for the things we do? How might we offer or ask for God’s healing? How might we practice dependence on God, and let God be our strong one?
Calling All Angels (The Wailin’ Jennies)
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
A WINNING TEAM
“Michael and his angels battled against the dragon...Satan, the seducer of the whole world, was driven out.” —Revelation 12:7, 9
St. Michael the Archangel and his angels battled Satan and his demons. They overpowered him and drove him away (Rv 12:7-9). Michael stands as a bulwark against Satan, a reinforced wall to block his plans (Dn 10:21—11:1, NAB). St. Raphael also defeats demons, overpowering and binding them (Tb 8:3).
Jesus, Whose poured-out blood defeats Satan (Rv 12:11), has given the Church power to “overcome all demons” (Lk 9:1). We members of the Church do our part by our testimony to Jesus (Rv 12:11), prayer, fasting (Mt 17:21, NAB), our steadfast refusal to yield to Satan (Jas 4:7), obedience (Rm 16:19-20), and our praises, which Satan and his demons cannot stand.
If Satan has been defeated, why must we still fight him? He has lost the war, but on his way to hell, is trying to exact more casualties upon the kingdom of God. He is a sore loser, and “his fury knows no limits, for he knows his time is short” (Rv 12:12). Therefore, if we “relax our efforts” in finishing the fight (cf Gal 6:9), we might suffer some casualties ourselves. Because God has used angels to successfully fight Satan, and because the Lord hasn’t changed His battle plan (see Heb 13:8), we need the angels (cf 1 Cor 12:18, 21). We must regularly involve the angels, especially the archangels, in spiritual warfare. St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us.
Prayer: Father, may I wield every weapon You give me to advance Your kingdom on earth.
Promise: “When I called, You answered me; You built up strength within me.” —Ps 138:3
Praise: St. Michael the Archangel stands “as a reinforcement and a bulwark” to protect us from evil (Dn 10:21—11:1)
http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/
Alternate reading: John 1:47-51
GOSPEL READING: Luke 9:57-62
57 As they were going along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head." 59 To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." 60 But he said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61 Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." 62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
Meditation: Are you ready to follow the Lord Jesus wherever he may lead you? With the call the Lord gives the grace to respond and the strength to follow all the way to the end. Why does Jesus issue a challenge with the call? Jesus was utterly honest in telling people what it would cost to follow him. When a would-be disciple approached Jesus and said he was ready to follow, Jesus told him it would require sacrifice - the sacrifice of certain creaturely comforts. Jesus appealed to this man's heart and told him to detach himself from whatever might hold him back. Spiritual detachment is a necessary step for following the Lord. It frees us to give ourselves without reserve to the Lord and his service. While many of us may not need to give up the comfort of our own home and bed to follow Jesus, we, nonetheless, must be willing to part with anything that might stand in the way of doing God's will.
Don't let anything hold you back from following the Lord Jesus
Another would-be disciple said he would follow as soon as he had buried his father. What he meant by this expression was that he felt the need to return to his home to take care of his father through old age until he died. The third had no obligation to return home, but simply wanted to go back and say good-bye. Jesus surprised these would-be disciples with the stark truth that nothing should hinder us from following the Lord. Was Jesus being harsh and rude to his would-be followers? Not really. We are free to decide whether we will take the path which Jesus offers. But if we choose to go, then the Lord wants us to count the cost and choose for it freely.
Don't miss the good path God has set for you - it will lead to joy and freedom
What does the story of a plowman have to do with the journey? A plowman who looked back while plowing his field caused the line or furrow he cut into the soil to become crooked. One crooked line easily leads to another until the whole field is a mess. The plowman had to look straight ahead in order to keep the plow from going off course. Likewise, if we look back on what we have freely left behind to follow the Lord - whether that be some distraction, attachment, or sinful habit which leads us away from doing God's will - our path will likely diverge and we'll miss what God has for us.
Will you say "yes" to the Lord's call for your life?
The Gospel does not record the response from these three would-be disciples. We are only left with the question which Jesus intends for us as well. Are you ready to take the path which the Lord Jesus offers? His grace is sufficient and his love is strong. There is nothing greater we can do with our lives than to place them at the service of the Lord and Master of the universe. We cannot outmatch God in his generosity. Jesus promises that those who are willing to part with what is most dear to them for his sake "will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life" (Matthew 19:29). The Lord Jesus offers us a kingdom of lasting peace, unending joy, surpassing love, enduring friendship, and abundant life. Is there anything holding you back from pursuing the Lord and his will for you life?
Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess you have given me. I surrender it all to you to be disposed of according to your will. Give me only your love and your grace - with these I will be rich enough and will desire nothing more. (Prayer of Ignatius Loyola, 1491-1556)
Psalm 88:2,9b-14
2 Let my prayer come before you, incline your ear to my cry!
9 Every day I call upon you, O LORD; I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the shades rise up to praise you? [Selah]
11 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your saving help in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 O LORD, why do you cast me off? Why do you hide your face from me?
15 Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am helpless.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Put to death what is earthly in you, by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)
"The statement 'Let the dead bury their dead' implies spiritually: Waste no more time on dead things. You are to 'put to death therefore what is earthly in you: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry' (Colossians 3:5). These things therefore are dead. Cast them away from you. Cut them off as you would cut off gangrenous flesh to prevent the contamination of the whole body, so that you may not hear it said, 'Leave the dead [spiritually dead] to bury their dead' (Matthew 8:22). But to some it seems abnormal and contradictory that the Savior does not allow the disciple to bury his father. It seems inhumane. But Jesus does not in fact forbid people from burying the dead, but rather he puts before this the preaching of the kingdom of heaven, which makes people alive (Luke 9:60). As for burying the body, there were many people who could have done this." (excerpt from Fragment 161)
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