September 29, 2004

A priest friend of mine once said, "Reality is my favorite flavor!" An inner yearning for the "real" is something that we believers share with many modern-day rationalistic agnostics. Deep down within we want the truth. No one wants to be bamboozled into believing something bogus. Despite the media-driven perception of people with faith, we Christians do not desire deceptions. I personally do not want to believe and base my life on anything that is false.

Today is the feast day of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. In a few days we will celebrate the Guardian Angels. In the Creed we profess that God created "heaven and earth, all that is seen and unseen". The fact that we do not (regularly) experience the angels as we experience "things seen" here on earth does not mean that they are less real! Just because we can not see and hear them like we see and hear each other does not mean that their existence is less true or believable. With my own natural powers I have never seen cell phone signals, radio waves or nuclear radiation. With the right instruments such things can be observable. With a mind and heart open to faith, things unseen - including the angels - are perceivable! Let those with eyes to see and ears to hear, believe.

Sacred Scripture and Tradition, along with the official teachings of the Church, have always affirmed the reality of the good and fallen angels. I am sure that thousands could send e-mails with true angel stories. If you have ever driven in New York City without getting into an accident, you would firmly believe in angels! Let us thank our Heavenly Father for their presence and help.

Let us pray for each other,

Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR
Vocations director, residing at St. Joseph Friary in Harlem
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