On the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, we are reminded that the angels are not sentimental or powerless figures, but glorious servants of God who worship Him continually, defend His people, and carry out His will. Reflecting on Revelation, Isaiah, Daniel, the Psalms, and Richard Hooker, this homily considers the holiness, power, and obedience of the angelic host and calls Christians to greater worship, obedience, and love of God.

In the Gospel, Jesus exposes the many forms of pride: judging others as unworthy of mercy, refusing to admit when we are wrong, and seeking places of honor for ourselves. Against this pride stands the grace of God, which goes before us and follows after us. Knowing that we are debtors to grace teaches us humility, moves us to mercy, and frees us to take the lower place of service in Christ’s kingdom.

St. Paul turns from his own sufferings to earnest prayer for the Ephesian Church, asking that they be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, rooted and grounded in love, and brought into a deeper knowledge of the immeasurable love of Christ. His prayer reminds us that spiritual maturity is not found in isolation, but together with all the saints through the life, worship, and intercession of the Church.

In the cleansing of the ten lepers, Jesus reveals the power of faith, obedience, and thanksgiving. Like the Samaritan who returned to glorify God, we are called to awaken from spiritual dullness, recognize the abundance of God’s gifts, and respond with worship, gratitude, and renewed wonder.

The parable of the Good Samaritan reveals both the depth of Christ’s mercy toward us and the mercy He calls us to show others. Having been rescued, healed, and given new life in Christ, we are called to become neighbors to those in need.

The Law reveals our need, but Jesus Christ brings the greater glory of the New Covenant. Through His righteousness, mercy, and healing power, He makes whole what sin has broken and calls us to trust not in ourselves, but in Him alone.

In the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, Jesus calls us away from comparative righteousness and self-trust toward persistent prayer, humble repentance, and complete dependence upon the mercy of God.

As Jesus approaches Jerusalem, He weeps over a people who reject Him and do not recognize the source of their peace. Christ’s sorrow reveals His extraordinary love for His enemies and calls us to pray for those who oppose Him, trusting in the same mercy and grace that brought us into His Kingdom.

Idolatry takes many forms, but at its heart it is the desire for something other than God. In the parable of the prodigal son, both brothers are alienated from their father in different ways. Yet the Father lovingly calls both the rebellious and the self-righteous to repent, come home, and share in his feast.