The Angels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael: What are they Up to These Days?

Today is one of those feast days in the Catholic Church we might be tempted to gloss over: the Archangels St. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Really? Angels? What have they to do with our struggles here and now? Didn't they already accomplish their mission?

Yet, how can these holy, powerful and beautiful beings be idle? Let us consider instead that each one of them is fully active and involved in their respective works by which they glorify God.

St. Michael is known as the warrior who subdues evil. We pray, "St. Michael, defend us in battle," because we need help with that and God is pleased that we all work together to defeat evil through his grace, beginning with what is amiss or sinful in our own lives. In return for our participation in this struggle God promises us help and delivery from all that is evil so we can find joy in God's Goodness and Life. 

St. Gabriel is known as the Messenger, sent by God to Mary, he proclaimed: Blessed are you among women... the Holy Spirit will come over you and you will bear a child... the Son of the Most High. Gabriel continues to work throughout the world, wherever the gospel is preached. It is always an invitation to collaborate in God's work of hope, of repair, of the restoration of our relationship to the Divine. That message still resounds: Their message goes out through all the earth (Psalm 19).

St. Raphael is the Angel of our times, needed so much as the healer. He protected Tobit and Sarah who were so desperate they wished for death. He came into the lives of two young people-Tobias (son of Tobit) and Sarah his future wife. Raphael gives us hope in the midst of dire hardship. Hope in God's power to protect us from death, illness, blindness and the long loneliness of depression.

These three holy ones are not far from us! That is a great consolation. Since Scripture gives us their names, we should evoke them for courage, wisdom and strength (Morning Prayer, September 29th) and never cease to hope that we too can glorify God by participating in their mission. 

Blessings on your day,

Julie

Sweet Home Indiana

On Sunday, May 7th I left Indiana. I wasn't planning to. Things just started to happen very gradually until one day, there I was, hauling my own behind and my dog's out West (with the help of my friend and driving companion, M, to whom I am forever grateful). "How can you uproot yourself and move across the country without meaning to?" you might ask. A very good question. 

So, first of all, I'm married. And second of all, my husband and I are both very work conscious, not in an overboard, workaholic type way. We just like to work and be challenged and (yes) needed at work. Well, my spouse started making sounds about that whole thing not going so well for him. So we talked and I said, "Sure, see what's out there. In the meantime just give it your all at your current job and maybe things will improve." 

A few months went by. There was some grumbling coming from my guy, but nothing dramatic. Then there was that email. It said, "We think we have have a role for you here, in San Diego" and "can you come for an interview?" Okay, fine, I offered. Check it out. What's the harm? We can always decline. So that all happened, and then a little waiting, and suddenly we have a choice to make: yes or no? San Diego or stay in Carmel Indiana, where we've lived for 11 years. Where we have friends. Where we mostly raised our two sons. Where I have a really nice job, and sing in a world class symphonic choir. Wait a minute! Are we really leaving? How did we get here? 

My dear husband and I have moved across the country 4 times. You can see how we get into to this mess! We are just so darned open to something new. That said. It's been great. When we moved from the Bay Area to Indiana in 2012, we had no way of knowing the riches we would find there. It was vastly different and beautiful in new ways we could never have predicted. 

I've been here in San Diego a week and half. I expect we will find new and beautiful experiences here that I cannot foresee. So, I guess I'll keep you posted! 

And Indiana? Thanks for being such a sweet home to us for so long!