THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals St. Michael the Archangel 29 September 2013

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

Most people know St. Michael as the slayer of the demon dragons. He is the one we are told who stood up against Lucifer and his cohort of rebellious angels. St. Michael is however also represented to us as offering incense to God along with the prayers of men. Today’s Mass also reminds us that we all have angels and the angels of children (or the innocent) stand before the face of God.

To scandalize the children is to take the side of Lucifer and the fallen angels and lead souls away from God. Those who thus scandalize the innocent incur the just indignation of St. Michael and all the angels but especially the particular guardian angel of these souls being stolen from innocence and God.

Jesus teaches us in today’s Gospel that whatever causes scandal should be cut off, plucked out, or cast aside. It is better to enter into Heaven maimed than to go to Hell whole. The same is true with mankind. It is better that the part of mankind that leads others into sin should be cast out and lost rather than that all mankind should be destroyed. It is necessary that there are scandals, but WOE to those by whom they come. It would be better for that man (that causes scandal) that he were never born. It would be better that the man that causes scandal should have a millstone tied around him and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

All those who give bad example or endorse or encourage sin in any way make themselves enemies of God, enemies of men, and enemies of St. Michael and all the angels. The angels in Heaven come to the aid of the innocent and as we see, also burn sweet incense to mix with the prayers of men. God is most pleased with this union of His creatures (angels and men) in prayer and sacrifice.

Though the devils and evil men appear to succeed and advance in this world, we know that this is only an illusion. They have no real success as their success is only temporary. The price that they have to pay for this temporary and apparent success is eternal damnation. The scales of justice that St. Michael holds in his hand will infallibly weigh out the acts of men and determine their true or eternal merit.

Many have speculated what the test for the angels could have been that caused Lucifer and his followers to turn against God. There is a tradition that relates to us the rise of the first sin, when the rebel angels rose up against God. It is said that God revealed to all the angelic host that the Second Person of the Trinity was to become man and that the angels must worship God not only in His Divinity, but also in His Humanity. This was apparently too much for the pride of Lucifer and his cohort. How could an angel that is higher than man bow down to worship man? Foreseeing God in this humble position caused Lucifer to proclaim himself greater than God. Obviously, Lucifer would never stoop to become human.

St. Michael rose up in defense of God in His Humanity and drove these demons out of Heaven. In accepting the test in all humility, St. Michael rose to the height of glory. St. Michael comes to the defense of Jesus Christ but also through Him, St. Michael comes to the defense of each and every member of the Mystical Body of Christ.

Lucifer and all the demons in Hell eternally hate us for the exalted inheritance that is offered to us through Jesus Christ. We are to be the children of God. We are to be like unto God. The very position that the devils aspired to and lost through their pride is to be ours through the practice of virtue and humility.

The test that began in Heaven with the angels, continues in time here on earth. We are all constantly faced with the test to worship Jesus Christ (true God and true Man). We are asked to humble ourselves in all love and obedience to the Church (the Bride of Christ). Those who fail in this will be joined eternally with the rebellious devils in Hell. The damned will pay an even heavier price if they have led others into a similar damnation.

May St. Michael come to our aid and help us fight off these devils and evil men who scandalize us, as well as offer his burning incense to God with our prayers that we might be pleasing to God. May we thus avoid offering scandal but rather that we may always give our fellow man the example and inspiration to know, love and serve God in this world, so that they may be eternally happy with Him in Heaven.