A month ago, I received the message that my Grandfather had died; a life well lived but still a surprise. I share that tidbit because today is his birthday, he would have been 93 years old. He was a great man – a man of faith, family and fun. He loved that his birthday was on the feast of St. Michael. His birthday being on this feast and me being named Michael was always a connection he loved. Each year on his birthday whether I was visiting or calling, he would say: “You know today is St. Michael's Day. Good saint, do you know the prayer to Saint Michael?” I would always respond; “It is in indeed St. Michael's Day, a good saint and yes, I know the prayer Grandpa.”
Obviously, my Grandfather is on my mind today, as is my patron saint and his sidekicks. Not just because of the connection with my Grandfather and my name but because of how both my Grandfather and these holy angels always point to God and the power of God’s love.
During the eulogy, my Uncle referred to my Grandfather as “The Warrior” an image he tied to St. Michael. It is probably the most common image of St. Michael this solider looking angel, with grand wings, a sword, a shield and chest plate of armor. However, the reflection of my Uncle leans more toward the image of a warrior as someone who is brave or even someone engaged in struggle or conflict. This speaks of my Grandfather and speaks of each of us; called to be brave in our daily living as imitators of Christ and aware that God is with us in the struggles and conflicts. Being a warrior does not mean we are off to war, being a warrior can speak yes, about being brave but also how we like the angles are guardians focused on the force of love, the awareness of serving and the power of gratitude because God is at work in us. A few key lines from Revelation (12.7-12a) can serve as a reminder of this: “Now have come the salvation and the power and kingdom of our God…by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony… rejoice then, you heavens.”
The salvation and power of the kingdom is the force of God’s love at work in our lives. A love which we are called not to harbor and hide but rather to share and infuse the world with so the “the deceiver of the whole world” (Revelation 12.7-12a) cannot get his footing. We are called to be brave guardians of this love sharing this true love made known to us. How are we warriors for love?
The gift of God’s love poured forth in the birth, life and death of his beloved Son – the Lamb of God; awakens us to the gift of a life of service. God continually increases the strength of soul (Psalm 138) for we too are called to serve our God by the witness of our lives. How are we warriors like St. Michael – aware that God is God and we are not; like St. Gabriel – being messengers of Good News and like St. Raphael – being agents of healing - serving our God, aware of God’s presence in our daily living?
The power of gratitude is indeed the stance of the warrior, for evil is weakened in the battle by gratitude. My Grandfather had gratitude on his lips each day whether that was for my Grandmother and his family, the home he had, the land he worked, the friends he made, the work he did, the church he served or the beauty of creation around him – he rejoiced with the heavens and gave thanks to God with his whole heart (Psalm 138). How do we let the power of gratitude manifest itself in the moments that shape our day?
Today as we celebrate this ancient feast, with the messengers-guardians-warriors of love Saint Michael and the Archangels, with St. Francis and St. Clare, with my Grandfather and with each other, we too can echo the words of Nathanael (John 1.47-51), “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” For Christ, the Son of God is here with us and his love is as fierce as a warrior, as gentle as a dove, as present as our breath and as precious as our very lives. May the nourishment of each Eucharistic feast nourish us for the work which is ours to do in “the kingdom of our God” here and now.
And Grandpa, Happy Birthday!
I know you are celebrating with Saint Michael and the Archangels today!
You are near to me, close in my heart and thoughts.
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