DAILY- HOMILY

SEPTEMBER 29, 2011
FEAST, ARCHANGELS, MICHAEL, GABRIEL & RAPHAEL
THURSDAY 26TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Dn 7:9-10,13-14 or Rv 12:7-12 / Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 4-5 / Jn 1:47-51

DANIEL 7:9-10,13-14
I looked and saw the following: Some thrones were set in place and One
of Great Age took his seat. His robe was white as snow, his hair white
as washed wool. His throne was flames of fire with wheels of blazing
fire. A river of fire sprang forth and flowed before him. Thousands
upon thousands served him and a countless multitude stood before him.
Those in the tribunal took their seats and opened the book. I
continued watching the nocturnal vision: One like a son of man came on
the clouds of heaven. He faced the One of Great Age and was brought
into his presence. 1 Dominion, honor and kingship were given him, and
all the peoples and nations of every language served him. His dominion
is eternal and shall never pass away; his kingdom will never be
destroyed.

JOHN 1:47-51
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming, he said of him, "Here comes an
Israelite, a true one; there is nothing false in him." Nathanael asked
him, "How do you know me?" And Jesus said to him, "Before Philip
called you, you were under the fig tree and I saw you." Nathanael
answered, "Master, you are the Son of God! You are the King of
Israel!" But Jesus replied, "You believe because I said: `I saw you
under the fig tree.' But you will see greater things than that. Truly,
I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

REFLECTION
Today is the feast of the three archangels: Gabriel, Michael and
Raphael. Each of the archangels is often associated with a special
mission that God designed for them. The archangel Gabriel was sent to
announce to the Virgin Mary that God chose her to be the mother of His
Son, the Redeemer of the human race. Michael was the warrior of God
against Lucifer. Raphael was the one who helped Tobit get the medicine
for the eyes of his father.

The Gospel presents to us Jesus meeting Nathanael whom Jesus called a
true Israelite. It did not of ten happen that persons invited by the
followers of Jesus to join them would be called true Israelite by the
Rabbi. Jesus spoke of Nathanael as "the one he saw him under the fig
tree."

For us who are not familiar with the fig tree, what does "to be under
the fig tree" mean? The fig tree was a common place for prayer. If
Nathanael was specifically under a fig tree when Philip called him,
chances are he was in prayer. And, if Nathanael had been at prayer,
chances are he was praying for the Messiah. Perhaps this is why Jesus
refers to him as a true Israelite; his faith was focused on waiting
for the Coming. Only one person could have known, could have heard his
solitary prayer for the Messiah: the Messiah Himself! (cf. The Fig
Tree and Israel's Religious History)

Jesus answered Nathanael with something he had heard and learned from
Scriptures about angels, "ascending and descending" over the Son of
man. This Gospel story brings us confirmation by Jesus himself about
his true nature, the Son of God whom angels and archangels obey and
glorify. We have learned and believed that God loves us so much that
He assigned each one of us a Guardian Angel.

In this period of history Jesus looks at us under our fig tree. He
invites us to go to him to tell us what he told Nathanael. How shall
we respond?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of:
- Monica
- Renan and Bong Lacida
- Normita Siaco
- Manuel V. Mosera
- Jo Marcelo
- Wally Torres
- Mon Torres
… for the personal intentions of
- Pauline
- Mary Wong
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Janine Villamor
- Birthday: Girlie Del Carmen
- In Memoriam (+): Nancy Acero Chua
- In Memoriam (+): Cesar Bengson Jr.
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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