Like an Angel

I didn’t know that the archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael were honored today, but then I read it in my morning prayer book. It was an appropriate time. One name among the three angels stood out. Gabriel.
He is the messenger who announces to Elizabeth the birth of John the Baptist and to the blessed Mary the birth of our Savior. I mean this angel seems to be in charge of some very holy and important messages. And this angel reminded me of a time I met a strange kid while I was kneeling in prayer at church. This is the story:

I sat in the pew of St. Anthony’s Church for the first time in a long time. I recently had moved back home and I’ve liked praying in a rather small, rather humble building. Kind of makes me feel more pious.
On this day, my old baseball coach, the entire choir of the church, comes up to me, takes me outside and asks me to share with the parishioners, the story of when the Lord blessed me- inside the Caribbean prison system.
I said sure, but then I felt overwhelmed because I was going to find myself on the altar, in front of strangers with no planned speech. Memories of ailing bones and chewing bread came to mind.
But I asked the Spirit for wisdom and it provided and when the priest had given a homily asking us to reflect on the questions, “What has Jesus did for us in our life? How has Jesus blessed us?,” it came to me.

So there I was standing on the altar, hiding behind a podium.
“Ask not what Jesus can do for you, but what you can do for Jesus.”
That is what I said.
Sounds familiar, huh?
Anyways, I spoke to the lay faithful, challenging them to think not only of what Jesus has done for us, but what we can do for Jesus, through God’s grace. How we can use our will in accordance to God’s will?


Little did I know, I myself would be challenged by my own words.
That Friday I went to daily mass. Before mass started I was kneeling in prayer, repenting and preparing for communion.
“Hey can you buy me some food?” Somebody whispered.
I looked next to me and there was a man. I gave him a strange look; after all, it was the start of mass! I was worshipping the Lord. Then I noticed a tattoo on his neck, a gang sign.
“After mass,” I said. “Come after mass.”
“Are you going to get me some food,” he asked.
“Pray about it.” I told him.
Then he gave me a sort of “C’mon man” and he walked off. With that attitude I wasn’t giving him anything!

As I kneeled in prayer, I wondered why me? Did I look vulnerable or weak or maybe it was because of my age, which seemed close to his. Was this man going to rob me or kill me? You can never know these days. He was a taller fella, and I got a glimpse of his tattoo, right on the side of his neck. I better not deal with this guy.
But I remembered seeing his face. It was as if he was starving and distressed, so I prayed for him and I prayed that he would come to mass and receive the real food. The bread of life!

In the middle of mass, when the bread was being consecrated, and my eyes were closed, I heard somebody get near me. So close, that I could feel the heat from his body. And that person began to hymn the words along with the priest! I was impressed.
When I opened my eyes, I saw the gang sign tattooed on his neck. It was the man from before. He had decided to come to church. We said the Lord’s Prayers holding hands and I went to get communion, but the man didn’t follow. He stayed kneeling in prayer.

When mass had ended, I asked, “What do you want?”
“A burger and fries and a drink. A number 6.” How in the world did he actually know the number to the value meal at a local joint? Suspicious.
Not wanting the man to follow me to my car, where my wallet was, I told him stay here and repent all your sins.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Gabriel.”
Gabriel?
I thought about the Angel Gabriel.
That is when I felt that it was it was the Lord’s will.

I introduced myself and then he asked, “Are you going to come back?”
“Pray for it and if it be the Lord’s will, I will. Confess and repent.”
I left Gabriel kneeling at the pew, hoping he was repenting and trusting in the Lord, and I walked down the street to a burger joint.
When I got there, it was closed. What would I tell him?
I couldn’t let the Lord and this man down, so I walked a few more blocks. I was sweating by the time I got the store. Okay, I’m out of shape, and it was hot. I was hoping Gabriel didn’t leave yet. I bought some tacos and a soda and walked back to the church.
Gabriel’s trust may have ended, because he was walking out of the church down the street, before I had even arrived.
“Did you repent?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said.
His eyes lit up at the sight of food and the man with the gang sign tattoo said,
“Thank you, Derrick.”
And he gave me a hug, like he had been waiting for food all day.


That was the last time I spoke to Gabriel. I saw him the following Friday, sitting across the street on some grass, but he never came into the church. And I never went out to see him.

Today as we celebrate the day of the angels, I can’t help but think about Gabriel.

It wasn’t that I was like an angel to him, but it was that he was like an angel to me.

He was a messenger from the Lord that delivered this message:
“When I was hungry, you gave me to eat. When I was thirsty you gave me to drink…”

“Whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers, you did unto me.” Matthew 25:35-40


Thank you Lord, for angels.
Have mercy on us.