September 29, 2026 Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels Gospel: John 1:47–51
Today is Tuesday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time. The Church celebrates the feast of three archangels: Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
As we read in recently published Missals:
The Feast celebrates the three archangels named in Sacred Scripture, reminding us of the angelic world and of their constant ministrations to the world. St Michael (meaning “Who is like God”) is venerated as captain of the heavenly army, victor over Satan, protector of the Church and helper of the sick and dying. Today’s feast originated as that of the dedication of a Roman basilica in his honor.
St Gabriel (meaning “Strength of God”) announced both the birth of St John the Baptist (to Zechariah) and of Jesus Christ (to the Blessed Virgin Mary). His greeting at the Annunciation, “Hail, full of grace,” has become one of the most familiar prayers.
St Raphael (meaning “God heals”) took care of Tobias on his journey, as described in the book of Tobit, and is often associated with the angel of the sheep pool (Jn 5:1–4). He is a patron of the blind, travelers and physicians and nurses.
Today, the passage from the Gospel of John tells us about Nathanael, who came to Jesus because of Philip’s introduction, and the conversation between Jesus and Nathanael. Let us try to understand it.
In our daily lives, we often act like Nathanael, making judgments based on our own understanding of how the world works (Cf. John 1:45–46). When we hear others speak of people from poor or underprivileged backgrounds, we tend to think they are inferior to us in every way, and we resist reaching out to them or refuse to associate with them. At those moments, what guides us is not the Spirit but the impulse of the flesh. What we desire is everything that belongs to this world, rather than all the good things God bestows upon us according to His holy will.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ! In our daily lives, God, who is rich in mercy, sends us His faithful servants—men and women who selflessly dedicate their lives to caring for us. For example, since the moment we left our mother’s womb, our parents, sent by God, have continually nurtured us, allowing us to feel God’s warmth in every aspect of our daily lives. When we go to school, God, in His marvelous providence, gives us teachers who impart knowledge and skills to us. And when we enter the workplace, God, in His infinite mercy, places colleagues around us to help us integrate better into our lives. When we experience all this, we are like Nathanael (Cf. John 1:45–46), who came to know and see all that God was doing for him through the words of another.
In fact, before Nathanael received Philip’s invitation, he was sitting under a fig tree (Cf. John 1:47–48). The fig tree appears in the book of Genesis, after our first parents disobeyed God and ate the fruit of the tree—they sewed fig leaves together to make loincloths to cover their shame (Cf. Genesis 3:1–7). So when Nathanael heard Jesus reveal what had happened in his past, he immediately declared Jesus to be the Son of God and the King of Israel (Cf. John 1:49). In this way, with Philip’s help, he discerned his vocation and professed it before Jesus. Likewise, in our own lives, we too must be like Nathanael and let go of our old ways of thinking. We should not base our understanding of the faith on human beings alone. Rather, by contemplating the people we meet each day—all of them made in God’s image—and reflecting on what they do for us, we can better discern our own vocation and, like Nathanael, embrace it generously.
To embrace our vocation generously, we cannot rely on ourselves alone—we also need the protection and help of the three archangels. Therefore, on this feast of the Archangels, let us pray together:
O God, who dispose in marvelous order ministries both angelic and human, graciously grant that our life on earth may be defended by those who watch over us as they minister perpetually to you in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
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