September 27, 2026 Trinity 17 St. Michael and All Angels Sunday

September 27, 2026

Trinity 17

St. Michael and All Angels Sunday

There are roughly 40 (give or take) references to Angels in the Scriptures. Catholics tend to focus on three Angels that were specifically mentioned by name in the Bible. And those three Angels are: Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, and Saint Raphael. However, Judaic and Christian Tradition oftentimes speaks of many other Angels.

As Liberal Catholics we give a certain amount of veneration to the Angels. We begin each mass by invoking the Angel of the mass to come and be present. The Angel of Mass does a number of different things, but mainly they bring our prayers up to Christ. The Angel of Mass also assists the priest in celebrating the entire Mass and brings a portion the sacrifice that we offer from our altar up to the altar in heaven.

Within the Liberal Catholic teaching there are what is referred to as the Seven Rays. Those Seven Rays are specific locations within the church – both in the sanctuary and the nave. Each ray corresponds to a particular gemstone or crystal, but they also correspond to a specific Angel. Now, I am not going to get into the theosophical aspects of this today, but suffice to say that they have so significant purposes.

Many people have some misconceptions regarding Angels. Let’s look at a couple.

Much like with many things in life we sometimes use the Bible to guide us in determining right and wrong on some topics, even if they are not specifically identified in the Scriptures. Obviously, the Scriptures cannot possibly contain all that we will need, specifically, for every facet of human life, though it offers you ways to live your life in various forms, and via this, it will provide you many nearly all the information you need.

Angels are created beings just like humans. We have a finite amount of information on the Angels, and some of what we do have, does not all come from the Bible. We also get some of this information and understanding from Tradition that's been handed down ,whether it be oral Tradition, private revelation, or some other written materials outside of the Scriptures.

Much like the Jewish people, we Catholics do hold that Oral Tradition can be equally important at times in defining our faith. In fact, some of the oral Tradition that we as Catholics use, originated from Judaic Tradition. Some of what we believe and teach on Angels is one of those examples. Remember, Jesus was a practicing Jew.

As I mentioned a little bit ago, Angels are creatures just like we as humans are creatures. We do not ever and should not ever worship an Angel. Worship is left for God alone. However, we do and can venerate Angels. To keep it simple, by “venerate,” means that we give special honor to; that we acknowledge them and their existence; that we may offer praise to and for them; or we may simply call on when we need assistance.

There are a  number of passages in which Jesus speaks about Angels and their role in heaven and on earth. It is quite obvious that Angels are also here to guide and help human beings. Jesus even spoke of how the Angels rejoice over one sinner who repents. Once, when speaking to his disciples, Jesus speaks about welcoming children.  “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their Angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 18:10) Are we to think that once we become adults that our Angels desert us? No. They remain with us throughout our existence. Don’t believe me? Then ask them to guide you in some way and watch the results. I use them all the  time when looking for something I cannot locate. Nearly every time I find what I am looking for.

We do well to understand the secondary teaching that Jesus was giving. What he was trying to say was that we each have an Angel that is assigned to each of us. We refer to those Angels as Guardian Angels. The treasure here is that Jesus is making it very clear that we do have an Angel - someone who protects and guides us. They communicate to us in their own way. Some of us listen; some of us don't. Some of us hear them and some of us don't. On rare occasions, some also see their Angel, or they come in the form of a human. What is important to know is that they are here and always will be here for us.

Jesus made it very clear how we should treat Angels and how they are in relation to us. Our refusal to address them and seek their assistance is only hindering ourselves.

Some non-Catholics will point in the Scriptures where it says that you only have one mediator between yourself and God and that's Jesus Christ. Of course we could be sarcastic and ask them, “Then why do you ask your friends or family to pray for you?”. We need to understand that the Angels are God's messengers, God's warriors, and God's creatures. Angels as we also learn from Jesus, stand in the presence of God. Saint Michael and the Archangels (specifically seven of them, much like our seven rays) stand before the throne of God petitioning God on behalf of the human race. They stand before the face of God, petitioning our Lord Jesus on our behalf. They lift up our prayers to our mediator Christ.

Angels are part of our spiritual sphere and are here for us. The Angels are so spiritually connected to God in ways that we are not, that the moment that a prayer leaves your brain, your Angel has already presented it to God.

Ever so frequently we'll ask one another to pray for us and we should. Jesus is the most perfect example, because that's exactly what he did. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he says a prayer quickly to God his Father before calling on Lazarus to come out.

It is ludicrous to think, then, that while we will ask each other to pray for us, we will not ask a fellow creature, who stands before the throne of God, to intercede for us or to help us. There isn't a day in my life that I do not call on my Angels for something that I want them to assist me with. Although, my most fervent prayers of my heart go to God, I know that my Angel is kneeling at the throne of God pleading on my behalf. Let me tell you, my Angel needs hazard duty pay and accrues a lot of overtime, for the amount that I have them constantly doing something.

Seeking help from the Angels is not worshipping them. We are not asking them to do something outside of the power God has given them. We are asking them to do exactly what they already do on behalf of God.

On this Saint Michael and all Angels Sunday, let us remember that God, in creating us also created the Angels. Angels were created before us and they now take care of us. Send your prayers to God always but also ask your Angels to go before God and ask for your need as well. You will be surprised by the result.

Let us pray.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells Nathanael that he will “see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” We pray that we too can be given a vision of God’s Angels in Christ’s and our lives. We pray to the Lord.

That we will give veneration, not worship, to our Guardian Angels and seek their holy assistance in our lives. We pray to the Lord.

That we foster veneration for all Angels. God created the Angels for our good. May we teach the proper Catholic belief on all the Angelic Host. We pray to the Lord.

For us who bend our knees in prayer. May we learn a deep humility in our hearts when we surrender to God. May we long to know Christ Jesus in our every action and concern. We pray to the Lord.

For a richer knowledge of how to care for one another. May we support our children with respect and hope. May each child be protected from abuse and malnutrition. May hope be manifest in the tears of our children. We pray to the Lord.

For a deep and abiding commitment to follow Christ. May we never despair in the richness of Christ’s mercy and forgiveness. May we live in such hope all the days of our lives. We pray to the Lord.

For a remedy for depression and discouragement. May we seek to live in the beauty of nature and not in the confines of technology. May we look up to the sky and not down to the worries that bend our shoulders and harden our hearts. We pray to the Lord.

We continue to pray for an end to the wars that are taking place in our world. No war, outside of self-defense, is a just war. Protect all peoples during this horrible time. We pray to the Lord.

We pray to God for an increase of clergy and religious for our denomination that we might spread the message of Christ to all peoples without exception. We pray to the Lord.

That those who believe in our mission, will consider a donation to help us to have better resources so that we can expand our outreach to more people and bring them the Good News. We pray to the Lord.

For those on our parish prayer list, that they may receive swift answers to their needs and that they may find consolation through Christ’s healing presence. We pray to the Lord.

We bow our heads and remember in silence our own personal intentions and the intentions of those who have asked for our prayers (pause). We pray to the Lord.     

Lord, you laid the earth’s foundations. You placed its cornerstone. While the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy, you set limits for the sea and said, “This far and no further!” You gave orders to the morning and showed the dawn its place. You molded the earth until it took shape. You alone know the springs of the sea. You alone comprehend the vastness of the universe. You alone know the laws of heaven. Lord, give wisdom to our hearts and understanding to our minds.

O God of heaven and earth, of time and eternity, of all life and love and light, we worship you. For your perfect beauty and holy majesty, we praise you. For your unfathomable goodness and gracious mercy, we thank you. For your creative wisdom and unassailable justice, we lift up your name. You are worthy of our adoration and deserving of our acclamation. We join with the saints of all times and places, with the angels and heavenly choirs, and with all creation in singing your glorious praise. May you be honored and glorified by what we do in this place, in this hour. For the sake of Christ we pray. Amen.

God Love You.

The Most Rev. Robert Winzens

Pastor – St. Francis Chapel

San Diego, CA.