Cooperating with our angels...
Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels (October 2, 2019): Ex 23:20-23; PS 91:1-2,3-4,4-6,10-11; MT 18:1-5,10
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days
On this Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, we venerate the heavenly messengers whom God has designated to protect His beloved people.
We often think of these intelligent, beautiful spiritual beings as tending to the care of little children. Indeed, Jesus mentions the bond between them in today’s Gospel, “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” (Matthew 18:10). But, while that is true, every person of any age has an angel to guide the way through life.
Pope St. John XXIII had a special dedication to his own guardian angel and, in a meditation in honor of this feast, he wrote: “We must remember how admirable was the intention of Divine Providence in entrusting to the angels the mission of watching over all mankind, and over individual human beings, lest they should fall victims to the grave dangers they encounter.” Let us make every effort to work with our angels, so that we may grow in faith, hope and love. We can ask them to help us serve God and work for the welfare of all the people in our lives. And, when we meet them in heaven, we will finally know them as they know us – and be able to offer them our thanks for guiding us on our way home to Almighty God.
Suggested missionary action: We can pray to our Guardian Angel each day. And we can teach the young children in our lives to say the traditional prayer, “Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love entrusts me here. Ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.”
