With Christmas approching, I wanted to write a text about a celestial figure of great importance because it unites Christians, Jews and Muslims: the angel Gabriel.

 

His name in Hebrew means ''Man of God'', ''the strength of God'' or even ''Hero of God''. Gabriel is therefore considered as the main messager of God. Elegantly literate, he delivers great news. He is the boss of communicators, he is credible and up to his responsability and nobody can force him to change a message. More than a messager, he is also an interpreter. Sacred texts make it appear when it is necessary to translate and give meaning to the word of God. It is therefore a strong and direct link with the divine presence.

 

Gabriel is very strong and very powerful. It has 600 wings, each of which extends between heaven and earth. He is very handsome, quick-witted and confident. In addition to being noble and ethical, all the other angels obey him.

 

Blue is a color associated with the angel Gabriel. The trumpet is another powerful emblem of this archangel. This instrument refers to the awakening of souls on the Day of Judgment.

 

It is also recognizable by the white lily, symbol of purity, truth and harmony. Sometimes, he is depicted with a bird feather and ink in his hand, in reference to his status of divine messenger.

 

 

Principal messenger of God in the Bible

 

As per the writings, the angel Gabriel is a messenger that God has entrusted with several important messages. He appears to at least three people in the Bible: Daniel the prophet, the priest Zacharias and the Virgin Mary.

 

Prophet Daniel 

 

Gabriel appears to the prophet Daniel in order to explain a vision that the latter had: ''The ram you saw and which had two horns are the kings of the Medes and the Persians. The goat is the king of Yavan (Greece). The big horn between his eyes, is the first king. It was broken, and the four that rose in its place are four kingdoms that will rise from this nation, but will not have its strength. At the end of their reign, when sinners will be consumed, an impudent and artificious king will rise. His power will be strengthened; he will do incredible destruction, succeed in his endeavors and destroy the mighty and the people of the saints. Because of the arrogance in his heart, he will destroy many men and will rise up against the leader of the chiefs; but he will be broken, without the effort of any hand (by the direct intervention of God)'' (the Bible, verses 15-26).

 

Daniel's vision alludes to the end of time and the advent of a new time.

 

 

Priest Zacharias 

 

He also brought his message to Father Zacharias, John the Baptist's father, in the temple in Jerusalem, while he was conducting his religious service. He appeared to him to the right of the alter of incense, a symbol of prayer, to announce that his prayers had been answered: Elizabeth, his barren wife, would be pregnant and have a son. This miracle child was to be named John.

 

'' I am Gabriel standing in front of God. I have been sent to to speak to you and to tell you this good news. '' (the Bible, Luke chapter 1 verse 19).

 

As Zacharias did not believe him, Gabriel made him mute until the day of the child's circumcision.

 

 

Virgin Mary 

 

Gabriel is first and foremost the angel of the Annunciation, that is that he appeared to Mary to announce to her the birth of Lord Jesus-Christ while she was still a virgin.

 

The angel entered Mary's house and said: Hail, to whom grace has been made; the Lord is with you.

 

Troubled by this word, Mary wondered what such a greeting could mean.

 

The angel said to her: Fear not, Mary; because you have found the favour of God.

 

And behold, you shall become pregnant, and shall bear a son, and shall give him the name of Jesus.

 

He will be great and will be called son of the most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

 

He will reign over the house of Jacob eternally, and his reign will have no end (the Bible, Luke Chapter 1 verse 33).

 

In response to Mary's question, who asked how it would be possible because she was a virgin, he told her that the child would be conceived by the Holy spirit and that the holy child that will be born will be called the son of God.

 

In the Qur'an and Islamic traditions

 

In the Qur'an and Islamic traditions, the angel Gabriel is called Jibril in arabic. He his the most honored among the angels. As he approached his forties, the Prophet Muhammad went to Mount Hira, near Mecca at night, to meditate. In 611, Jibril appeared to him.

 

He told him: '' You are the Messenger of God, his prophet'' and commanded him to recite what he heard. So he begins his preaching and these revelations will form the Coran, from the Arabic Qur'an, composed of 114 suras (chapters) divided into 6226 verses.

 

Muhammad recounts:'' While I was sleeping, Jibril introduced himself to me, holding a book in an embroidered felt case:

 

• Read, he ordered.
• Read what, I asked?

He then applied the case on my face, preventing me from breathing. At the risk of choking completely, Jibril did not stop asking me to read. I asked, exasperated:

• Read what?
• Read in the name of your Lord who created!

He created a man from a blood clot.

Read!

Because your Lord is the most generous who taught man by means of the calamus and taught him what he didn't know (the Coran, Sura 96, verses 1-5).

 

I read. Jibril fell silent and went away from me. I woke up with a start and these words were as if engraved in my heart. ''

 

Jibril thus plays a mediating role between the prophet Muhammad and Allah (God).

 

 

The help provided by the angel Gabriel

 

It is said that in order for the archangel Gabriel to help you, it is important to solicit him with a clearly expressed prayer. Because of his sacred figure, we must not forget that faith and sincerity are essential to be able to benefit from the energies of peace brought by the angel Gabriel.

 

The latter can assist in the following areas:

 

• Fertility: Infertile people can call on the archangel, whose fertility is the field of predilection. Thus the angel Gabriel announces to the priest Zacharias that his sterile wife would be pregnant.

 

• Communication: Gabriel has power over speech and self-expression. It is common to pray him when future communication is particularly important or when your emotions do not allow you to clearly express your thoughts.

 

• Career and passions: The angel Gabriel can help you find your passion and choose a path that suits you deeply. Thus, the angel Gabriel revealed to Muhammad the beginnings of what would become the Coran, that is, the way of Islam.

 

• Death: The angel Gabriel accompanies the departed souls to paradise. One can entrust in him through prayer a loved one at the end of life.

 

This archangel would send a positive energy, an inspiration to peace or to truth. Under its influence, you may also have the courage to speak out or assert yourself. In addition, the presence of the angel Gabriel could show itself in the form of love that can provide you both physical and mental well-being.

 

 

Conclusion 

 

Gabriel possesses several noble qualities, he belongs to the highest hierarchies of celestial spirits. It is a privileged interface between the visible and the invisible, between the celestial universe and the human.

 

The angel Gabriel would have unlimited power, which means that he can help anyone who needs his help at anytime. For example, to be fertile, to express oneself, to find one's way or to accompany a soul at the end of life.

 

He is also the main messenger of God in the Bible and a privileged mediator between the Prophet Muhammad and Allah in Islam.

 

And if the angel Gabriel appeared in 2023, in these times of geopolitical, climatic and health turbulences, what good news would you like him to bring ?