Memorial of the Guardian Angels
Lectionary: 456/650
Lectionary: 456/650
Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.
Job spoke out and said:
Perish the day on which I was born,
the night when they said, "The child is a boy!"
Why did I not perish at birth,
come forth from the womb and expire?
Or why was I not buried away like an untimely birth,
like babes that have never seen the light?
Wherefore did the knees receive me?
or why did I suck at the breasts?
For then I should have lain down and been tranquil;
had I slept, I should then have been at rest
With kings and counselors of the earth
who built where now there are ruins
Or with princes who had gold
and filled their houses with silver.
There the wicked cease from troubling,
there the weary are at rest.
Why is light given to the toilers,
and life to the bitter in spirit?
They wait for death and it comes not;
they search for it rather than for hidden treasures,
Rejoice in it exultingly,
and are glad when they reach the grave:
Those whose path is hidden from them,
and whom God has hemmed in!
Job spoke out and said:
Perish the day on which I was born,
the night when they said, "The child is a boy!"
Why did I not perish at birth,
come forth from the womb and expire?
Or why was I not buried away like an untimely birth,
like babes that have never seen the light?
Wherefore did the knees receive me?
or why did I suck at the breasts?
For then I should have lain down and been tranquil;
had I slept, I should then have been at rest
With kings and counselors of the earth
who built where now there are ruins
Or with princes who had gold
and filled their houses with silver.
There the wicked cease from troubling,
there the weary are at rest.
Why is light given to the toilers,
and life to the bitter in spirit?
They wait for death and it comes not;
they search for it rather than for hidden treasures,
Rejoice in it exultingly,
and are glad when they reach the grave:
Those whose path is hidden from them,
and whom God has hemmed in!
Responsorial
PsalmPS 88:2-3, 4-5, 6, 7-8
R. (3) Let my
prayer come before you, Lord.
O LORD, my God, by day I cry out;
at night I clamor in your presence.
Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my call for help.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
For my soul is surfeited with troubles
and my life draws near to the nether world.
I am numbered with those who go down into the pit;
I am a man without strength.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
My couch is among the dead,
like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom you remember no longer
and who are cut off from your care.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
You have plunged me into the bottom of the pit,
into the dark abyss.
Upon me your wrath lies heavy,
and with all your billows you overwhelm me.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
O LORD, my God, by day I cry out;
at night I clamor in your presence.
Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my call for help.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
For my soul is surfeited with troubles
and my life draws near to the nether world.
I am numbered with those who go down into the pit;
I am a man without strength.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
My couch is among the dead,
like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom you remember no longer
and who are cut off from your care.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
You have plunged me into the bottom of the pit,
into the dark abyss.
Upon me your wrath lies heavy,
and with all your billows you overwhelm me.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
AlleluiaPS 103:21
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Bless the LORD, all you angels,
you ministers, who do his will.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Bless the LORD, all you angels,
you ministers, who do his will.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 18:1-5, 10
The disciples approached Jesus and said,
"Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father."
"Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father."
Meditation: "Their angels behold the Father in
heaven"
Why does Jesus warn his disciples to "not despise
the little ones?" God dwells with the lowly and regards them with
compassion. His angels watch over them as guardians. "For he will
give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways" (Psalm
91:11). God has not left us alone in our struggle "to refuse evil
and to choose good" (Isaiah 7:15). The angels are his "ministering
spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain
salvation" (Hebrews 1:14).
The angels are God's messengers and protectors for us
Scripture is full of examples of how the angels serve as messengers and protectors. When Peter was chained in prison and kept under guard, an angel woke him in middle of the night, released his chains, and brought him safely out of prison, past several guards and through locked gates. When Peter realized he wasn't dreaming, he exclaimed: "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me" (Acts 12:11). When Daniel was thrown into a den of hungry lions, an angel protected him from harm (Daniel 6:22).
Scripture is full of examples of how the angels serve as messengers and protectors. When Peter was chained in prison and kept under guard, an angel woke him in middle of the night, released his chains, and brought him safely out of prison, past several guards and through locked gates. When Peter realized he wasn't dreaming, he exclaimed: "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me" (Acts 12:11). When Daniel was thrown into a den of hungry lions, an angel protected him from harm (Daniel 6:22).
The angels show us that the universe is spiritual
as well as material
John Chrysostom (347-407 AD), an early church father and renowned preacher, compared the guardian angels to the troops garrisoned in cities on the frontiers of the empire to defend it from the enemy. Basil the Great (329-379 AD) said, "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life." Angels ministered to Jesus after his temptation in the wilderness and during his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). The angels will be present at Christ's return, which they will announce, to serve at his judgment (Matthew 25:31). The angels show us that this universe which God created is not just materialistic.
John Chrysostom (347-407 AD), an early church father and renowned preacher, compared the guardian angels to the troops garrisoned in cities on the frontiers of the empire to defend it from the enemy. Basil the Great (329-379 AD) said, "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life." Angels ministered to Jesus after his temptation in the wilderness and during his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). The angels will be present at Christ's return, which they will announce, to serve at his judgment (Matthew 25:31). The angels show us that this universe which God created is not just materialistic.
The devil seeks to destroy us
The fallen angels (Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelations 12:9), described in Scripture as evil spirits or devils (Mark 5:13; Matthew 25:41), seek our destruction (see 1 Peter 5:8). If they cannot persuade us to disown our faith and loyalty to Christ, they will attempt to divert us from doing the will of God by distracting us with good things that weigh us down or make us indifferent towards the things of God.
The fallen angels (Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelations 12:9), described in Scripture as evil spirits or devils (Mark 5:13; Matthew 25:41), seek our destruction (see 1 Peter 5:8). If they cannot persuade us to disown our faith and loyalty to Christ, they will attempt to divert us from doing the will of God by distracting us with good things that weigh us down or make us indifferent towards the things of God.
God provides us with spiritual protection from the
evil one
God gives us the help of his angelic hosts and he gives us spiritual weapons, the shield of faith and the breastplate of righteousness (see Ephesians 6:1-11), to resist the devil and his lies. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we, too, join with the angelic choirs of heaven in singing the praises of God. Do you thank the Lord for his guidance and protection?
God gives us the help of his angelic hosts and he gives us spiritual weapons, the shield of faith and the breastplate of righteousness (see Ephesians 6:1-11), to resist the devil and his lies. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we, too, join with the angelic choirs of heaven in singing the praises of God. Do you thank the Lord for his guidance and protection?
"Lord Jesus, you are our refuge and strength. May
I always know your guiding hand and the help of your angels in protecting me
from all that is evil. Give me strength of will and courage to refuse what is
evil and to choose what is good."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Their angels behold the face of my Father in
heaven, by Chromatius (died 406 AD)
"It is not right to despise anyone who believes
in Christ. A believer is called not only a servant of God but also a son though
the grace of adoption, to whom the kingdom of heaven and the company of the
angels is promised. And rightly the Lord adds, 'For I tell you that in heaven
their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.' How much
grace the Lord has toward each one believing in him he himself declares when he
shows their angels always beholding the face of the Father who is in heaven.
Great is the grace of the angels toward all who believe in Christ. Finally, the
angels carry their prayers to heaven. Hence the word of Raphael to Tobias:
'When you prayed along with your daughter-in-law Sara, I offered the memory of
your prayer in the sight of God (Deutero-canonical book of Tobit 12:12). Around
them there is also the strong guard of the angels; they help each of us to be
free from the traps of the enemy. For a human in his weakness could not be safe
amid so many forceful attacks of that enemy if he were not strengthened by the
help of the angels." (excerpt from TRACTATE
ON MATTHEW 57.1)
[Note: Chromatius was an early Christian scholar and
bishop of Aquileia, Italy. He was a close friend of John Chrysostom and Jerome.
He died in 406 AD. Jerome described
him as a "most learned and most holy man."]
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, MATTHEW 18:1-5,
10
(Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23; Psalm 88)
(Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23; Psalm 88)
KEY VERSE: "For I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father" (v. 10).
TO KNOW: Jesus had been teaching his disciples about the nature of discipleship when they asked who was the greatest in God's reign. Jesus responded by placing a little child in their midst. In Jesus' day, a teacher's disciples were called his 'sons' or his 'children.' Therefore, a child meant a beginner in the faith, and not yet mature. In ancient society the child had no legal rights or standing and was entirely dependent on the parents. Though lowly, children have tremendous worth before God and should not be despised as being insignificant. Their guardian angels watch over them and intercede on their behalf. The disciples might regard themselves as strong and self-sufficient, but they must be submissive and put their trust in God. Followers of Jesus who have these qualities reveal God's love to the world. Whoever welcomes these humble servants are in fact welcoming Christ.
TO LOVE: In what ways do I need to become more childlike?
TO SERVE: Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide.
Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
Catholics believe in the existence of angels and in the participation of angels in God’s plan of salvation. Throughout the Scriptures, angels have played an important role in God’s revelation to humanity. An angel is a pure spirit created by God who constantly praises and glorifies God. Unlike saints, angels were never human and living on earth. The word angel means “messenger” (Greek: angelos) and as messengers of God, angels can be seen as spiritual beings who communicate God’s love and presence to us on earth. They make known God’s plan and can challenge people to grow in holiness. Angels also guard and protect us – these angels are known as “guardian angels.”
Catholics believe in the existence of angels and in the participation of angels in God’s plan of salvation. Throughout the Scriptures, angels have played an important role in God’s revelation to humanity. An angel is a pure spirit created by God who constantly praises and glorifies God. Unlike saints, angels were never human and living on earth. The word angel means “messenger” (Greek: angelos) and as messengers of God, angels can be seen as spiritual beings who communicate God’s love and presence to us on earth. They make known God’s plan and can challenge people to grow in holiness. Angels also guard and protect us – these angels are known as “guardian angels.”
Tuesday 2
October 2018
The Holy Guardian Angels
Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23. Psalm 87(88):2-8. Luke 9:51-56.
Let my prayer come before you, Lord – Psalm 87(88):2-8.
‘His face was set toward Jerusalem.’
We curl in on ourselves, wishing from the depths of our being
that things were different. Job knew this experience and was honest in his
feelings. He allowed pain and anguish to surface and named them for what they
were.
Similarly, Jesus heads towards Jerusalem. ‘Resolutely’ is Luke’s
word. Jesus knows what is coming. He doesn’t wish for it, but neither does he
flee from it. He names it for what it is and moves towards it. When he does not
receive support from the villagers in Samaria, he doesn’t seek revenge. He
simply and resolutely moves on. Jesus allowed nothing to stand in the way of
what was to come and remained focused upon it.
Feast of the Guardian Angels
Saint of the Day for October 2
 |
| Detail | The Guardian Angel | Marcantonio Franceschini |
The Story of the Feast of the Guardian Angels
Perhaps no aspect of Catholic piety is as comforting to parents
as the belief that an angel protects their little ones from dangers real and
imagined. Yet guardian angels are not only for children. Their role is to
represent individuals before God, to watch over them always, to aid their
prayer, and to present their souls to God at death.
The concept of an angel assigned to guide and nurture each human
being is a development of Catholic doctrine and piety based on Scripture but
not directly drawn from it. Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:10 best
support the belief: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for
I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my
heavenly Father.”
Devotion to the angels began to develop with the birth of the
monastic tradition. Saint Benedict gave it impetus and Saint Bernard of
Clairvaux, the great 12th-century reformer, was such an eloquent spokesman for
the guardian angels that angelic devotion assumed its current form in his day.
A feast in honor of the guardian angels was first observed in
the 16th century. In 1615, Pope Paul V added it to the Roman calendar.
Reflection
Devotion to the angels is, at base, an expression of faith in
God’s enduring love and providential care extended to each person day in and
day out.
LECTIO DIVINA: THE HOLY GUARDIAN
ANGEL - MATTHEW 18:1-5.10
Lectio Divina:
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father,
you show your almighty power
in your mercy and forgiveness.
Continue to fill us with your gifts of love.
Help us to hurry towards the eternal life your promise
and come to share in the joys of your kingdom.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
you show your almighty power
in your mercy and forgiveness.
Continue to fill us with your gifts of love.
Help us to hurry towards the eternal life your promise
and come to share in the joys of your kingdom.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 18,1-5.10
At this time the disciples came to Jesus
and said, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?'
So He called a little child to Him whom
He set among them. Then He said, 'In truth I tell you, unless you change and
become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven. And so,
the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the
kingdom of Heaven. 'Anyone who welcomes one little child like this in my name
welcomes me.
"See that you never despise any of
these little ones, for I tell you that their angels are continually in the
presence of my Father in heaven."
3) Reflection
• Today's Gospel presents a text taken
from the Discourse of the Community (Mt 18,1-35), in which Matthew gathers
together some phrases of Jesus to help the communities of the first century to
overcome the two problems which they had to face at that moment: the leaving or
going away of the little ones because of the scandal caused by some (Mt 18,
1-14) and the need for dialogue to overcome the internal conflicts (Mt 18,
15-35). The discourse of the Community treats several themes: the
exercise of power in the community (Mt 18, 1-4), the scandal that excludes the
little ones (Mt 18, 5-11), the obligation to struggle to bring back the little
ones, for their return (Mt 18, 12-14), fraternal correction (Mt 18, 15-18),
prayer (Mt 18, 19-20) and pardon (Mt 18, 21-35). The accent is placed on
acceptance and on reconciliation, because the basis of fraternity is the
gratuitous love of God which accepts us and forgives us. It is only in this way
that the community will be a sign of the Kingdom.
• In today's Gospel we meditate on the
part that speaks about the acceptance of the little ones. The expression, the
little ones, or the least, does not only refer to children, but rather to
persons who are not important in society, including children. Jesus asks that
the little ones be at the center of the concern of the community, because
"The Father does not want any of these little ones to be lost" (Mt
18, 14).
• Matthew 18, 1: The question of the
disciples which results in the teaching of Jesus. The disciples want to know
who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. The simple fact of asking this
question indicates that they have not understood the message of Jesus well. The
response of Jesus and the whole discourse of the community serves to make us
understand that among the followers of Jesus the spirit of service,
dedication to pardon, reconciliation and gratuitous love, without
seeking one's own interest, has to be a priority.
• Matthew 18, 2-5: the fundamental
criterion; the one who makes himself as little as this child is the greatest in
the Kingdom of Heaven. "Then Jesus called to himself a child and placed
him in the middle"; the disciples want a reference point so as to be able
to measure the importance of persons in the community. Jesus responds that it
is the little ones! Children are not important in society; they do not belong
to the world of the great. The disciples, instead of growing towards the
heights and toward the center, should grow down and toward the periphery! In
this way they will be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven! And the reason for
this is the following: "anyone who welcomes one little child like this, in
my name, welcomes me!" The love of Jesus for the little ones cannot be
explained. The children have no merit; they are loved by their parents because
they are children, not because of their position or ability or power. This is a
pure gratuitous love of God which is manifested here and which can be imitated
in the community of those who believe in Jesus.
• Matthew 18, 6-9: Do not scandalize the
little ones. The Gospel today omits verses 6 to 9 and continues in verse 10. We
give a brief key for the reading of these verses from 6 to 9. To scandalize the
little ones means to be a reason for the loss of their faith in God and
abandonment from the community. The excessive insistence on the norms and
observance, as some Pharisees did, caused the little ones to go away, because
they no longer found the liberty that Jesus had brought. Before this, Matthew
keeps very strong phrases from Jesus, such as the one of the mill stone put
around the neck, and the other one, "Alas for those who cause
scandal!" This is a sign that at that time the little ones no longer
identified themselves with the community and looked for another refuge. And
today? In Brazil alone, every year, approximately one million persons abandon
the historical churches and go to the Pentecostal ones. And these are the poor
who do this. They leave because the poor and the little ones do not feel at
home in their house! What is the reason? To avoid this scandal, Jesus orders to
cut off the foot or the hand and take out the eye. These affirmations of Jesus
cannot be taken literally. They mean that it is necessary to be very demanding
in the struggle against scandal which drives away the little ones. It means to
remove those things in our actions and ways that drive the little ones away.
The hand, foot and eye were the mechanisms for action then. Today we have many
more ways to perform actions and to interact with each other. We cannot in any
way allow that the little ones feel marginalized in our community because in
this case, the community would not be a sign of the Kingdom of God. It would
not belong to Jesus Christ. It would not be Christian.
• Matthew 18, 10: The angels of the
little ones are always in the presence of the Father. "See that you never
despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in Heaven
are continually in the presence of my Father in Heaven". Today we sometimes
hear the question, "But, do the angels exist or not? Perhaps they are an
element of the Persian culture, where the Jews lived for long centuries during
the Babylonian exile ?” It is possible. But this is not the important thing or
the principal aspect. In the Bible the angel has a different significance.
There are texts which speak about the Angel of Yahweh or of the Angel of God
and then suddenly they speak of God. They exchange one for the other (Gen 18,
1-2. 9.10.13.16: cf. Gen 13, 3.18). In the Bible the angel is the face of
Yahweh turned toward us. The face of God turned toward me and toward you! It is
the expression of the most profound conviction of our faith, that God is with
us and with me - always! It is a way of making God's love concrete in our
life, even up to the smallest detail.
4) Personal questions
• Are the little ones accepted in our
community? Do the poorest people participate in our community?
• The angels of God, our Guardian Angel,
and many times the angel of God, is the person who helps another person. Are
there many angels in your life?
5) Concluding prayer
Lord, you created my inmost self,
knit me together in my mother's womb.
For so many marvels I thank you;
a wonder am I,
and all your works are wonders. (Ps 139,13-14)
knit me together in my mother's womb.
For so many marvels I thank you;
a wonder am I,
and all your works are wonders. (Ps 139,13-14)
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