Revelation 12:7-12; Psalm 138 In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord. John 1:47-51
The opening lines of the first reading form revelation is spooky: War broke out in heaven.
Wow! This is pretty serious. Heaven is a place of peace and joy and love and fullness of life. Heaven is where birds sing and paradise welcomes all.
Heaven is a community of friendship, deep and intimate love that seeks the highest good of the other. There is no selfishness in heaven. And there is a War that rages in heaven.
The great coup where the servants seek to be the master. In a moment, in an instant, Lucifer the great angel himself chose to turn from God and thus began his fall into misery and self-loathing.
But Michael and the angels stand guard, hold their ground, wielding victory as they cast out the devil and all of his demons that seek to ruin souls.
"The dragon and his angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven."
What a sad commentary on the state of affairs for the devil. To choose oneself over God and thus lose a place in heaven. There was no longer any place for them in heaven. Why?
THe selfishness of the devil blinded him to the beauty that is God and he no longer could stand the array and light of heaven. It isn't that God kicks him out, but rather the devil doesn't want to be in God's presence.
This is the twisted reality of sin and the fall. The fall wasn't originally in the garden of eden, no that is the second fall. The original fall is Satan from grace. To forsake heaven for one's self, truly this is what "War" is in its essence.
Imagine "warring" against goodness! It seems bit odd or counter productive, but isn't this exactly what we do when we give in to temptation, act selfishly, speak hurtful words or hold grudges, choosing not to forgive, are we not warring against goodness? Are we not raging war against heaven trying to break through into our lives?
War broke out in heaven. How do we stop the war in our daily lives? How do we keep the fight raging in our choices and actions?
This is why we pray and ask Michael, Gabriel, Raphael to intercede for us. we hope that we might stand with them, and stop the war from raging inside of us and let heaven win, let heaven break through into our lives daily.
"They conquered him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony..."
There is the many we stand fast in victory.
O glorious prince St. Michael,
chief and commander of the heavenly hosts,
guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits,
servant in the house of the Divine King
and our admirable conductor,
you who shine with excellence
and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil
, who turn to you with confidence
and enable us by your gracious protection
to serve God more and more faithfully every day.
St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael intercede for us and help us become champions of God
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