Memorial of the Guardian Angels

The Guardian Angels, pray for us.

“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:4

“What is it like to be a child? What are the characteristics of a small child?”

       These were the questions the teacher posed to us in a Bible study session one evening. The three most common answers from the congregation were: trusting, dependent and obedient.

       Trusting because a child fully trusts his parents and never doubts them. I remember how I asked my little girl to jump into the middle of the pool where I was. Without hesitation, she jumped towards me even if the water was too deep for her.

       A child is fully dependent on his parents. He knows that his parents will provide for his needs and even his wants. My son was still little when he asked me for an expensive remote-controlled toy. Even though I could hardly afford it, God provided and he got his toy.

       And yes, a child is obedient. Tell him to do something and he does it quickly.

       I realize now that it’s a bit of a challenge to be like a child. “The gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14). With God’s grace, I will! Danny Tariman (dtariman.loj@gmail.com)

There are as many traditions and stories about the role of guardian angels as there are people you will talk to about them. What is important is that we believe that God does not abandon us without providing a companion who will help us on our way. Guardian angels are traditionally known as protectors. Obviously, they are not foolproof as, if we decide to jump in front of a train, it is unlikely they are going to save us.

20 Thus says the Lord: “See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. 21 Be attentive to him and heed his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority resides in him. 22 If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. 23 My angel will go before you and bring you to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites; and I will wipe them out.”

R: The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. 1 You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 Say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (R) 3 For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler, from the destroying pestilence. 4 With his pinions he will cover you, and under his wings you shall take refuge. (R) His faithfulness is a buckler and a shield. 5 You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day; 6 not the pestilence that roams in darkness nor the devastating plague at noon. (R) 10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall affliction come near your tent, 11 for to his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. (R)

This text has traditionally been used to support the idea of each person having a Guardian angel. I like the idea of God caring for us to the extent that He gives us an angel to protect us. It certainly gives me encouragement to believe that I am never alone in my journey, no matter how I might feel at any particular time.

The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.

1 The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child over, placed it in their midst, 3 and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. 10 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.”

think: God does not abandon us without providing a companion to help us on our way.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Proverbs 28-31

ENTHRALLED AND INVOLVED

I am always in awe when I watch great musicals. I was rapt in attention watching The Phantom of the Opera in all of the three times I saw it. The same was true for Les Miserables, the Broadway version of which I saw four times before the latest movie version regaled us last year.

       Ordinarily, I have little patience to sit through a lengthy movie, unless it is a guaranteed blockbuster. But both musicals, in real time or in reel, placed me in some kind of altered state of consciousness. I did not notice the minutes ticking by, nor the hours, even if both lasted much longer than ordinary movies. In both, I experienced a case of what the positive psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi called “being in a state of flow.” Roughly, it means being fully engaged and being absolutely enthralled by

whatever one is doing at the moment.

       Our feast today reminds us of a seldom thought-of but integral element of our Catholic faith: the Guardian Angels. The Lord Himself tells us that “angels in heaven always look upon the face of My heavenly Father.” They, too, are engaged and enthralled by God, pushed to the nth power, we might say. Called in Catholic tradition as the “beatific vision,” it is knowing and seeing God minus the mediation of the senses that we mortals are only familiar with — at least as of now. They see and know God — intimately, directly, immediately.

       It might boost our sense of Christian hope if we remind ourselves today that such bliss, such happiness known to no man on earth is something that we all can look forward to in heaven. Si, amigo mio! What the angels now enjoy will be ours, too, when we see God face to face in the afterlife.

       But today’s feast tells us more. The angels are not only engaged in and enthralled by God. They are also involved — with children, with people who are humble and lowly, and who, being childlike, are called greatest in the Kingdom.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What has enthralled you lately? Have you maintained your childlike wonder?

Thank You, dear Lord, for sending me Your guardian angel to protect me and guide me each day.