THERE is an angel in Heaven who is very, very important. That angel is the Angel Gabriel. It was the Angel Gabriel who, a long time ago, came down from Heaven and told the Blessed Virgin Mary that she was to be the mother of Jesus. Now that was a very special job for the Angel Gabriel. No wonder people always think of the Angel Gabriel as one of God’s most important angels! Well, the Angel Gabriel is very important.
Now, the Angel Gabriel has another important job. Do you know that some day the Angel Gabriel will blow a great, big horn? Yes, a horn that will be heard all over the world. People in America, China, Africa, India, people all over the world, will hear that horn. And when people hear Gabriel’s horn, they will know right away that the end of the world has come.
People say that one day God and the Angel Gabriel looked down from Heaven. They saw a strange sight. They saw men, women, and children on this earth making sins. They saw men, women, and children breaking God’s laws. Of course, that made God very sad. God had made men, women, and children to love Him. They were not loving Him. They were making sins. No wonder God was sad!
“Oh, I am sorry that I made the world,” said God to the Angel Gabriel. “Look at those people down there! See how they are sinning! Those people do not love Me.”
When Gabriel saw that God was sad, he felt sorry for God. He began to think… What can I do to make God happy? Then Gabriel had an idea.
“I know what I’ll do,” said Gabriel to himself. “I’ll blow my horn. I’ll put an end to this world. Then, there’ll be no more sin, and God will be happy.”
Gabriel picked up his horn. He was just about to blow, but God stopped him.
“Stop!” said God to Gabriel. “You must not blow that horn. It is not time to blow that horn. You must not blow that horn until Judgment Day.”
“Please, God,” begged the Angel, “please, let me blow my horn! I’ll put an end to this world. I’ll put an end to sin.”
God smiled. “No, Gabriel,” said God, “you must not blow your horn until Judgment Day.”
Then Gabriel asked God a question. “Tell me,” asked the Angel, “which day will be Judgment Day?”
God refused to answer the Angel’s question.
Then Gabriel decided to try again. “You know,” said the Angel to God, “Judgment Day will be a mighty big day for everybody. I want to play my best tune on Judgment Day. I’d like to know which day will be Judgment Day, so that I can begin to practice. Judgment Day will be a big day, and I want to be ready.”
“Gabriel,” said God, “you must always be ready. It is not important to know which day will be Judgment Day, but it is important to be always ready.”
Boys and girls, some day the Angel Gabriel will blow his horn. That will be the signal that the end of the world has come. Then, do you know what will happen? People who have been dead, will live again. Everybody who has ever lived on this earth will meet in one place. God will be there, and God will judge us. God will show your soul to everybody, and He will show my soul to everybody. You will see my soul, and I’ll see your soul. Everybody will know all the good things and all the bad things that we have ever done. Then God will pick out the good people to live with Him forever in Heaven. God will send the bad people to hell.
God is the only One who knows which day will be Judgment Day. It may be today. It may be tomorrow. After all, boys and girls, it isn’t important to know which day will be Judgment Day. The important thing is to be ready.
So, don’t worry about when the Angel Gabriel will blow his horn! All that you have to do is to be ready. Be ready every day!
Angel Food for Boys and Girls Volume II
by Rev. Gerald T. Brennan 1898-1962