St. Michael: Good vs. Evil...
God graciously gives us the Saints not only as our personal friends, but also as examples who are worthy of imitation. Although his feast day is just under three months away, we should look to the Patron of our parish as being especially helpful and relevant today. It is speculated that St. Michael the Archangel was not considered the most gifted of the angels. Lucifer was; hence, the name assigned to him means “light bearer.” Lucifer had all the gifts. Although a spirit without a body, he was considered beautiful. He used his free will to disobey God, to revolt. He wanted to be as God above everyone else. He preferred eventually to reign in hell than to serve in Heaven.
St. Michael used his free will to say “yes” to God. That was and is his joy. His name means “who is like God,” that is, one who would act like God in His goodness. In doing the holy will of God, St. Michael modeled Him. We cannot help but love our Saint Michael. His purity, innocence, trust and love are soul-stirring. It is these qualities that enabled him to surpass the angelic attributes of the adversary, Lucifer. Although less gifted, St. Michael defeated the Enemy, and forever the latter suffers with his minions in hell.
Each of us is created in the image and likeness of God. In order to be what we are meant to be, we must keep that image and likeness. St. Michael did; St. Michael always does so. Every sin is a denial of that image. Every sin is like the revolt of Lucifer. Here, I mean the person who consciously knows something is a sin and then gives full consent to committing it. In every temptation we are asked whether we want to serve God or to reign in our own private little world.
continued next week...
Fr. Stanley
