Saint Michael and all Angels
[September 29]
The Reverend Mark Carroll 2004
St. Michael Home
O EVERLASTING God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order; Mercifully grant that, as thy holy Angels always do thee service in heaven, so, by thy appointment, they may succour and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Daniel xii. 1, Revelation xii. 7 & St. Matthew xviii. 1
and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not
Today the Church remembers Michael, the Archangel, and all the angels of heaven. Michael is God's militant archangel. He is regarded to be a patron saint of all chivalric orders, including the Order of Centurions. The Order remembers his day as special. On Michael's Feast the Order of Centurions was initiated on the world wide web in 2003, and on his Feast Day the Internet Chapel of the Centurions was consecrated in 2004.
Daniel foretold of Michael, and of the great battle that would surpass anything this world had known before. Michael would destroy evil, and the righteous would be resurrected from the dead and together with the righteous living, be given a place in heaven with the angels. Daniel called him a great prince, who stood up for the children of God.
In Revelations, the vision of Michael's battle against the Dragon is brought into sharp focus through the images given to John on Patmos. We see Michael casting Satan from heaven by the power of Christ's blood, the blood of the Lamb. The Devil and all of his angels are thrown to the earth where they will bring to a head their evil designs against mankind and God.
Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus told his disciples that they must be as children (trusting and unpretentious) to be admitted into heaven. He warned that those who would cause the little ones to sin would be better to have a millstone of a donkey tied around their neck and be thrown into the sea. Not only that, but in heaven the angels of the little ones watch out for the faithful and present prayers for them before God the Father.
What are angles like? The images most often seen are that of beings who are recognized as messengers or warriors of the Lord. Angles are awesome and mighty and speak with authority. Angels are sometimes glorious in their appearance, sometimes not. They often act as protectors and guides. Angles may bring punishment from the Lord. They may defeat the enemies of the Lord in battle, as happened with 185,000 Assyrians. Warrior angels are armed with swords or other arms. Herald angels come with trumpets and scrolls. Angels do not marry, and often their gender is not revealed. The good angles are under the immediate command of God; Jesus said he could call up more than twelve legions to protect him from the temple priests or the Romans if he had so wished. Some angels are evil and servants of the Archangel Lucifer, the Devil. See more on depicting angels here
In the Order of the Centurions we remember the herald who visited Cornelius the Centurion and told him to send for Peter. The Lord recognized Cornelius as a devout man whose prayers had been accepted. The Lord selected Cornelius from among all Gentiles to be the first baptized Christian. The angel said, "Cornelius, ... thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do." At the same time, the Spirit of the Lord spoke to Peter through visions and told him to go to Cornelius. Hence, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and his Christ, the King of the Jews, broke through the national barriers. All men from all nations were invited to come to the banquet of the Lord, and it began with the word of an angel, the obedience of a Centurion, and the fidelity of an Apostle.
Want to learn the truth about Angels? Visit this Orthodox Church site Synaxis of the Chief of the Heavenly Hosts, Archangel Michael and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers: Archangels Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jehudiel, Barachiel, and Jeremiel.
The Reverend Mark Carroll, updated 2005
Daniel xii. 1
AT that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Revelation xii. 7
THERE was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
St. Matthew xviii. 1
AT the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell-fire. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Scripture from 1928 Book of Common Prayer
