The Guardian Angels 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5

Then Yahweh answered Job out of the storm:  

Have you ever commanded the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might grasp the earth by its edges and shake the wicked out of it,  when it takes a clay color and changes its tint like a garment; when the wicked are denied their own light, and their proud arm is shattered?

 Have you journeyed to where the sea begins or walked in its deepest recesses? Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of Shadow? Have you an idea of the breadth of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this.

 Where is the way to the home of light, and where does darkness dwell?  Can you take them to their own regions, and set them on their homeward paths? You know, for you were born before them, and great is the number of your years!  Job said:  How can I reply, unworthy as I am! All I can do is put my hand over my mouth. I have spoken once, now I will not answer; oh, yes, twice, but I will do no further.

 

Ps 139:1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14ab

Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 18:1-5, 10

At that time the disciples came to Je­sus and asked him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  Then Jesus called a little child, set the child in the midst of the disciples,   and said, “I assure you that unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.  

 Whoever becomes lowly like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,  and whoever receives such a child in my name receives me. See that you do not despise any of these little ones, for I tell you: their angels in heaven continually see the face of my heavenly Father.

 

Gospel Reflection：

The world we live in is dangerous! There is so much evil. Those who go on mission must contend with the forces of evil that seek to derail even the best of plans for mission. But thanks be to God who does not let His missionaries unassisted but has given us Angels to guard us from the evil one.

As little children we have learned to pray: “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.”

This beautiful prayer is drawn from our Gospel of today. Many times I have prayed to my Guardian Angel when I found myself in difficult circumstances, and how quickly I found relief. Angels are as real as are devils!

Unfortunately, at times we have not given our Guardian angels our attention, nor have we invoked their powerful protection from the evil one. God is so good that we each have been given a “personal heavenly guard!” Today would be a good time to acknowledge them and once again pray that prayer of our childhood!