Faithful never alone as God sends angels - Fr. Crisostomo

via Rein Carlo Ventura and Limuel Tayao, Junior Staffers

On third day of the 32nd Family Rosary Crusade at St. Dominic Academy of Pulilan, Dominican faithful celebrated the Feast of the Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.

Today's gospel reading from John 1:47–51 was the focus of the eucharistic celebration's homily.

During the homily, Rev. Fr. Peter Collin C. Crisostomo began with the question, “How can we really say if there’s an angel?” He connected this to the Nicene Creed, saying, “Everything that exist - "nakikita man o hindi nakikita, ang Diyos ang may lalang" (seen or unseen [creations] were created by God).

"All of us are contingent beings, only God is necessary," Fr. Crisostomo added.

He also reminded everyone that “looks can be deceiving,” explaining that the angels we usually imagine may be very different from what we commonly picture from which he introduced the three archangels: Michael, Rafael, and Gabriel.

Fr. Peter talked about St. Michael and his name, “Who is like God, but not God,” reminding everyone that God is the center.

He then discussed Gabriel as the “Message of God” and connected him to the Gospel of Luke.

From there, he asked everyone to reflect on the messages they give to other people: “Kapag ba tayo ay nagsasalita, ano ba ang dine-deliver nating message? Ano ba ang gusto nating sabihin? Is our message similar to the will of God or sinasabi lang natin ang gusto nating sabihin?”

(If we ever speak to people, what message to we convey? What is it that we want to say? Is our message similar to the will of God or we only say what we want to say?).

The discussion then moved to discernment—“yung aking [mga] sinasalita ba ay tugma sa aking ginagawa, sa aking pagkakilanlan bilang Kristyano?” (Are my words aligned with my actions, [and] with my identity as a Christian?) Fr. Crisostomo reminded everyone that “Hindi dapat magkaiba ang ating mga sinasabi sa ating ginagawa.” He gave an example of someone attending Mass and then acting differently afterward, reminding everyone that our actions should also reflect what we profess.

Another part of the homily focused on Rafael, the Healer of God. Fr. Peter spoke about people who carry wounds that cannot be seen. “Napakaganda nito dahil marami sa atin ay may sugat na hindi nakikita; may mga taong masiyahin sa labas pero napakabigat na pala ng dinadala, may mga taong tahimik pero madaming iniisip, may mga taong patuloy na nagsisilbi pero pagod na pagod na pala, at may mga sugat sa pamilya, may sugat sa relasyon, may sugat sa pagkakaibigan," he said.

(This [St. Raphael's story] is very beautiful since many of us already have wounds that are unseen; there are people who may be happy by outside but are carrying so much; there are quiet people who may be thinking about a lot; people who continue to serve even when extremely tired; and [those] with scars in the family, wounded relationship, friendship).

He then reminded everyone that sometimes, people do not need a long piece of advice. Sometimes, they simply need someone who is willing to be there and listen.

“Minsan hindi natin kailangan ng mahabang payo, kinakailangan lang natin maging [San] Rafael sa ating kapwa tao: isang tap lang sa balikat at sabihin mo, 'nandito ako handang makinig sayo' ”

(Sometimes, we do not need someone to give us an advice, we just need to be the [St.] Raphael in people: by just one tap on [their] shoulder, and say, 'I am here, ready to listen to you').

Fr. Crisostomo left the faithful with the reminder, “Hindi tayo nag-iisa, Isinusugo ng Diyos ang mga anghel.”

(We are not alone, God sent us the angels).

Through the reflection on the three archangels, the homily invited everyone to look beyond what can be seen and to reflect on how their own words and actions can become a message of God and a source of comfort to others.#