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Gospel Reading for September 29, 2026 – John 1: 47-51
ANGELS ARE REAL
Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
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Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Archangels:
MICHAEL — who brings God’s power against the evil one (Revelation 12: 7–9);
GABRIEL — who brings God’s message (Luke 1: 19 and Luke 1: 26–38); and
RAPHAEL — who brings the healing power of God (Tobit, Chapters 3–12).
Even if our human minds cannot fully understand the existence of angels, or even if we do not actually see them, their existence is affirmed by what Jesus says in today’s Gospel — ANGELS ARE REAL.
In their early catechesis, children are often taught about angels who guard them day and night. As a matter of fact, a traditional 17th-century bedtime prayer was taught to children (though it has since been revised in many ways):
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
Bless this bed that I lie on.
Before I lay me down to sleep,
I give my soul to Christ to keep.
Four corners to my bed,
Four angels round my head;
One to watch, one to pray,
And two to bear my soul away.
I go by sea, I go by land,
The Lord made me with his right hand.
If any danger come to me,
Sweet Jesus Christ, deliver me!
The line, “And two to bear my soul away,” was later changed to “And two to keep all harm away.”
It is so good to teach our children that parents are not always around to protect them, but they can always pray to their guardian angel to keep them safe from all harm. This is also one way of introducing spirituality at an early age.
Lord God, we thank you for the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, who are your instruments through whom you manifest your power and accomplish your will. Amen.
