The Roman Catholic Lectionary today presents texts which
celebrate Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels. Meditation on these
passages reveals some of the nature of the ongoing battle between good and evil
in life. The text from Daniel 7 is where the phrase the Son of Man is used to
identify the recipient of power and authority from God to lead the people of
God in their struggle for life. Friar Jude Winkler reminds us that the Son of Man
title was claimed by Jesus for Himself by reference to this text. The heresy
which places heavenly creations with human nature at a lesser value than pure
spiritual beings, like angels, has supported ideas in harmony with Greek
philosophers, like the Gnostics. This distortion of truth tends to draw
believers to a false disregard for the body in which we fight selfish desire
and bring real charity, compassion and mercy to others. The text from Book of Revelation
identifies Satan as the accuser of our comrades. Friar Jude comments that pure
justice for our sin will be demanded from God by the accuser, and God will
respond with mercy. This model of mercy trumping justice is part of the Mystery
which Nathaniel is seeking to explore as he sits in the learning position and
is identified by Jesus as one who is a descendant of Israel, who was renamed
from Jacob as he was transformed from deceitful behaviour to truthfulness, as
he wrestled with God. The struggle we see between the angels of good and the
angels of evil today is the parallel of our continuing struggle. We have the
Blood of the Lamb as the means whereby we shall ascend Jacob’s ladder as the
Mystery of the Law of Love is opened to our complete understanding.
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