Commentary

Wednesday, 10/2/2019, Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

Thank Your Guardian Angel

Gospel Commentary: Matthew 18:1-5, 10

In today’s gospel the disciples asked Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”  Jesus called a child over and told the disciples that they must become like children in order to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus said, “And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.” Jesus gives this same message in Mark 9:33-37 and also Luke 9:46-48.

Children are innocent, open minded and trusting. These are qualities which are important to our faith and stand in the way of over-inflated egos and pride. What Jesus said to the disciples was a warning to stay away from the deadly sin of pride because there is no place for pride in His Kingdom of Heaven.

How much good would your guardian angel be to you if he or she were consumed with pride? They would not have time to look out for your best interest. They would not have time to protect you and keep you out of trouble. Let’s just say that they would not have time for you at all and therefore, would not protect you at all.

But Jesus lets us know that it is not that way by telling us not to despise the little ones because their angels in heaven always look upon the face of the Father. The message here is that our guardian angels do more than just protect us when we listen to them. They also intercede for us but there can be no intercession from them on our behalf if we are consumed with pride.

It’s a good thing that our guardian angels do not have time for pride because we all keep our guardian angels busy! I know that I keep mine busy. Sometimes we listen to them and sometimes we don’t. But our guardian angels are committed to receiving us and protecting us and they never give up on us. And so, we set this day aside to thank God for giving them to us and to say, “Thank you” to our Guardian Angels.

If you truly understand the point that Jesus was making when He asked that a child be brought to Him, you will also understand that the prayer that follows is child-like but not childish.

Prayer to our Guardian Angel

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,

Amen.

Reading 1          Baruch 1:15-20

During the Babylonian captivity, the exiles prayed: “Justice is with the Lord, our God; and we today are flushed with shame, we men of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem, that we, with our kings and rulers and priests and prophets, and with our ancestors, have sinned in the Lord’s sight and disobeyed him.
We have neither heeded the voice of the Lord, our God, nor followed the precepts which the Lord set before us.
From the time the Lord led our ancestors out of the land of Egypt until the present day, we have been disobedient to the Lord, our God, and only too ready to disregard his voice.
And the evils and the curse that the Lord enjoined upon Moses, his servant, at the time he led our ancestors forth from the land of Egypt to give us the land flowing with milk and honey, cling to us even today.
For we did not heed the voice of the Lord, our God, in all the words of the prophets whom he sent us, but each one of us went off after the devices of his own wicked heart, served other gods, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, our God.”

Responsorial Psalm          Psalm 79:1-5, 8-9

R. (9) For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple, they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
They have given the corpses of your servants as food to the birds of heaven, the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the earth.
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury them.
We have become the reproach of our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us.
O LORD, how long? Will you be angry forever?
Will your jealousy burn like fire?
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may your compassion quickly come to us, for we are brought very low.
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Help us, O God our savior, because of the glory of your name; Deliver us and pardon our sins for your name’s sake.
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Alleluia          Psalm 103:21

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Bless the LORD, all you angels, you ministers, who do his will.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel          Matthew 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.”