God said to Moses: "my angel shall go before thee."

The concept is widely affirmed across major denominations,

every person is assigned a unique angel at birth to help steer them

toward good and protect them from harm.

 

＊＊＊ 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 colour 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 humble, 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 ：

Greatness stems from humility.

We were once children. Children always ask what, why, how, etc.

They wonder about the things around them, waiting for answers to all their curiosity.

They rejoice in learning new things. When his disciples ask him who is the greatest,

Jesus takes children as an example. What might be in children that makes them great?

 

Children wonder. They love to learn and are open to it. They can be formed. When one adopts a childlike disposition,

one remains humble. One becomes open to the world, ready to learn new things,

and unlearn those that need to be unlearned. Jesus reminds his disciples that greatness stems from such humility.

Hence, a humble person with a childlike heart is always open to learning, wondering,

and being surprised by what God has in store for them.