In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Let us remember that we are in the presence of a holy God.
Come to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Take one minute of silence now, praying for God’s blessing on you, your family, fraternity, and all Exodus Men.
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
# A Reading from the Book of Revelation
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”
Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus.
Worship God.”
For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse!
He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself.
He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.
And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses.
From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to strike the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords.
# Reflection
The angel inviting souls to the wedding feast of the Lamb evokes the story of Tobias and the Archangel Raphael.
Tobias travels on behalf of his blind father, Tobit, and encounters his kinswoman, Sarah, who is bound by a demon, Asmodeus, who murders any man who tries to marry her.
Tobias asks Raphael, disguised as a human being, to accompany him on his journey.
The angel, like a good guardian, answers: “I will go with you; I am familiar with the way” (Tobit 5:6).
Raphael guides him to Sara’s home, where he binds the demon so that he cannot harm Tobias, allowing them to celebrate the marriage and wedding feast.
Once they return home, Raphael also heals Tobit’s blindness, for which he is known as the angel of healing.
Raphael gives Tobit and Tobias advice that will help us journey to our own wedding feast:
>Praise God and give thanks to him; exalt him and give thanks to him in the presence of all the living for what he has done for you.
It is good to praise God and to exalt his name, worthily declaring the works of God. Do not be slow to give him thanks.
It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God.
Do good, and evil will not overtake you.
Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and righteousness.
A little with righteousness is better than much with wrongdoing.
It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold.
For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin.
Those who perform deeds of charity and of righteousness will have fulness of life; but those who commit sin are the enemies of their own lives. (Tobit 12:6-10)
He then reveals his true identity to them:
>God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah.
I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One.”
They were both alarmed; and they fell upon their faces, for they were afraid.
But he said to them, “Do not be afraid; you will be safe. But praise God for ever. (Tobit 12:14-17)
Tobit and Tobias have a similar reaction to John in being overwhelmed by the presence of an angel.
Even though we cannot see angels with our eyes, as they are not material, the manifestation of an angel to us, such as the vision of Raphael, would overwhelm us and make us think we were in the presence of God.
Yet, God’s presence is still infinitely greater.
Their awesome presence, however, led to John’s error in bowing down before the angel.
We do honor the angels, though as fellow servants of the Lord, who constantly behold his face and who help us.
It is actually amazing to hear the angel in Revelation say that he holds to the testimony of Jesus, showing that the angels, too, follow the kingship of Christ and hold to all that he has done for us on earth.
The angel gives good advice that the whole world needs: worship God.
When we return to God in worship, the world can return to its sanity.
Earlier, we saw the famous four horsemen.
Those riders were angels who brought the just wrath of God upon the earth.
This horseman is different.
He is the Word of God himself, the one who made the earth, took on flesh to enter it, and now comes again for its final purification.
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Let us pray.
Lord, you call us to worship you forever. Move our minds and hearts with true piety and love that we live as your sons in this world. Amen.
Saint Michael the archangel, pray for us.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
