Accuser of the Brothers

Angels in Adoration

Have you ever been accused of something you didn’t do? Once a student of mine reported me to the office for doing a poor job in the classroom. What the administrator didn’t know is that I had just given that student a low grade on a test, and he was trying to get back at me. In this case the accuser was trying to shift the blame from himself to his teacher.

Do you know that right now someone is accusing you? This person is not going to your boss but all the way to the top. He is accusing you before God himself. How do I know this? Check out today’s reading (Revelation 12:7-12).

“For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night.”

Read the first part of this selection and find out that the accuser is, “The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world.”

The “ancient serpent” is trying to throw the blame back on Adam and Eve who fell for his tricks, and us their children.

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the three great archangels: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. While the “accuser” is trying to make a case against us in God’s court, we have angels as our defense attorneys. And guess whom God listens to?

We read today that, “War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.” The dragon learned its lesson, and, coward that he is, starts fighting against human instead of the great Michael and his army.

While the serpent reminds God of our sins and demands justice, our angels remind Him of Jesus on the cross and asks for mercy. Though the perpetrators of evil try to condemn us, God’s mercy rules the day. His love drowns out the noisy accusations of the “accuser.” The Devil not only lost a place in heaven, he also lost his cases against God’s children.

God’s angels have an upper hand on the “accuser,” and the good news is that we do too. We read that, “They (the brothers) conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death.”

Imagine that! Our testimony to Jesus united to his Blood conquers the Devil. This is especially true when our testimony comes in the form of accepting death rather than deny Jesus. Now the accuser is so humiliated in God’s court that even we humans have the power to defeat him. We, and our angels, form a team, and we maintain an undefeated record! God’s mercy triumphs once again!

“In the presence of the angels I will sing your praise” (Ps 138:1).

About the Author

Author Bob Garvey lives in Louisville, Kentucky. He has a master’s degree in religious education and has been an active leader in the Catholic charismatic renewal for forty years. After retiring as a high school teacher, he began to write daily commentaries on the Church’s liturgical readings and other topics relevant to Catholic spirituality. He is married to Linda, has three daughters and four grandchildren.

Author Archive Page

13 Comments

  1. Thanks Bob for explaining today’s word the way you have. It really touched me that God is on our side and His angels are fighting for us. Had been feeling down. I really needed this to empower me. Truly, God has spoken through you.
    God bless you and all at acatholic.

  2. Thanks Bob for this wonderful message. Right now as speak to you my son is facing a displinary case for having stayed in a hostel without payment. Actually it wasn`t his fault. It was ours as parents for failing to pay the rent. I believe that the angels are fighting for him right now. Please pray for him that the father may at least accompany him and be their for him of which he had refuse to do so. This man abadoned his children at a tender age and has completly refused to support them financialy. I struggle paying fees. Please pray for me too. Thanks and God bless you.

  3. Bob,

    I cant thank you enough for this beautiful message. It had made my rather dull day warm.
    God bless you!

    My thoughts and prayers also for Angelica. I pray that He who died for us on the cross may protect and guide you as you try to intervene in your son’s matter. May your Guardian Angel who is also your warrior fight this for you! Be Blessed.

    Judith

  4. Once again, a difficult scripture to grasp. Why did it take a, “war in heaven” to cast out the dragon? Why didn’t God simply discard satan? We are to pray to God, through Jesus, have devotion to Mary, ask for saintly intercession, and also seek protection of our guardian angels. My most prominent prayer – “enlighten my understanding.”

  5. This verse popped out for me when I was doing lectio divina this morning. I couldn’t figure out why I landed on this sentence about the accuser of my brothers has been cast out. It just occurred to me that yesterday, a man who has been suspected of murder of a twelve year old boy five years ago, was declared not guilty by insufficient evidence. There is evidence of police mishandling of evidence, a grand jury judgement thrown out because of the prosecuter harassing the jury, and evidence of another suspect, a police officer, suppressed until the first day of the trial. For many, it was a travesty of justice all around. Unfortunately, suspicion fell on this man the day of the murder. The man is black, a college coach. The rush to heal the hurt of the family of the boy, was to make this black man a scapegoat.

    The verse also occurred to me about God saying that Vengeance is Mine. I feel we have to trust God with all, forgiving the perpetrator, though not excusing the person.

    So, Bob, I am glad I found you here today and will check back.

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