Festival of St. Michael and All Angels
Posted on September 29, 2021 by under
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 (NKJV)
8:1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.
8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
Devotion
Today is the festival of Saint Michael and All Angels. On this day we remember all those ministers of the Lord God who serve mankind by protecting us from the powers of the devil and his demons. This protection exists not just from physical trials, but also spiritual trials. They remove the impediments that would prevent us from hearing and receiving the Word of God. They succor and defend us here on Earth by restraining the powers of the devil so that we can hear the Word of God, sorrow over our sins, and cling in faith to the Lord Jesus alone for our salvation.
St. Paul in his second epistle to the Church at Corinth writes that our Lord Jesus became poor for us. He set aside the full glory and richness of His divine nature in order that He might suffer and die in our place on the tree of the holy cross. He became poor for us so that we might receive the riches of Heaven. He humbled Himself to become man in order that He might fulfill the whole Law and will of the Lord, which we are unable to do. He even humbled Himself on the tree of the holy cross, giving His life as a ransom for ours. We are able to hear this good news because the angels of God hold back the powers of the devil.
Prayer: O everlasting God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of angels and men in a wonderful order, mercifully grant that, as Thy holy angels always do Thee service in Heaven, so by Thy appointment they may succor and defend us on Earth; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
