Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

Job 9:1-12.14-16; Matthew 18:1-5.10)

Today’s feast reminds Christians of God’s special care for each human.  Catholic piety assigns an angel to everyone to protect and to lead him or her to heavenly glory.  As warrant for “Guardian Angels,” today’s gospel is cited.  Jesus says that “these little ones” have angels in heaven advocating for them.  His intent is as much to call his disciples to child-like humility as to proclaim a privilege for children.

Contemporary culture has difficulty translating the culture of the Bible.  Biblical consensus is that children in biblical times were valued as slave property with neither rights nor power to defend themselves.  They depended on the goodwill of others for everything.  Jesus is telling his disciples that they must stand before God in just the same way.  In other words, his disciples must be ready to serve God and to accept everything they have as His gift.

Today children not only claim the right to have a cell phone but also are not expected to do much beyond their homework.  Cultural icons like Dennis the Menace defy and manipulate with no one daring to correct them.  They are hardly what Jesus has in mind when he refers to a child as a model for his disciples.

Monday, October 2, 2023

Memorial of the Guardian Angels

(Zechariah 8:1-8; Matthew 18:1-5.10)

Children in Catholic schools used to be told to make room on their benches for their guardian angels.  Since angels are pure spirits, they do not occupy space.  But the admonition conscientized the children to the presence of angels that Jesus notes in today’s gospel.

Angels are pure spirits.  Acknowledging their presence confirms one’s belief that a realm beyond the physical world exists.  Christian belief extends much beyond that.  It believes that the spiritual has sway over the physical.  The gospel further testifies that angels take their cue from a benevolent God who dearly cares for human beings.

The church does not dwell long on angels.  Friday’s Feast of the Archangels and today’s memorial of Guardian Angels are the only two such celebrations in the liturgical.  Yet the Church does well to hold angels up as testimony of God’s inestimable love for us.

Friday, October 2, 2020

 Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

 (Job 38:1.12-21.12-21.40:3-5; Matthew 18:1-5.10)

 “The Memorial of Holy Guardian Angels” sounds like something for the liturgical calendar of children.  Yet in truth it bespeaks an emphasis of the “good news.” It reminds Jesus’ disciples of God’s particular concern for the weakest members of society.

Perhaps because so many children died in ancient societies, they were not considered very important.  Jesus, however, underlines their value when he says that each child has an angel to look after him or her.  Their angels are not the ordinary kind either but ranking members of the heavenly realm.  They have direct access to the Father.

Contemporary society seems to cherish children more earnestly.  It has made many laws protecting them from abuse.  Yet many children suffer without two parents in the home caring for them.  Today’s memorial does not only say that children have spiritual protectors.  It also reminds us of our responsibility to care for them and other vulnerable people.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019,

Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

(Nehemiah 2:1-8; Matthew 18:1-5.10)

We hear today’s gospel as an assurance that God cares for little children.  It is that. Some will add that God gives the same care to every person.  Yes, God loves everyone.  But we miss half the message if we limit our consideration to Guardian Angels protecting people.  The reading confirms the basic gospel proclamation of raising up the lowly and putting down the mighty.

At this point in Matthew’s Jesus is launching his sermon on Church order.  He will challenge his disciples to not allow anything to cause them to sin, even a roving eye or an itchy hand.  He will also admonish them to always be ready to forgive the sins of others. Because of their humility curtailing pride, God will raise them up.

Egocentrism caused Adam to sin and has kept a hold on his descendants.  Yet Christ has shown us that it is possible to live without over-concern for the self.  More than that, he has won for us the grace to break its grasp.  Staying close to him by contemplating his word and partaking of his body, we can be humble.  Then we will have no need to worry.  God will raise us up as sure as the sun rises in the morning.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

(Job 19:21-27; Matthew 18:1-5.10)

What is it about little children that Jesus wants us to emulate?  Perhaps it is their acquisitiveness.  In the supermarket often enough children load the cart with their own selections.  Or maybe it is children’s penchant for trying the limits of their parents.  They are likely to make irritating noises until their parents explode with anger.  Of course, these behaviors are hardly what the Lord is recommending.  More likely, Jesus wants his disciples to recognize that they need God as much as children need their parents. 

Today’s gospel passage is not so much a demonstration for the existence of Guardian Angels as it is a call for people to repent of egotism.  They are to realize that they need God to attain the happiness that they so much long for.  They will meet God in response to their call when they stop showing pretense.  They will realize then that God sends angels not just to children but to adults who choose humility.

We become like children when we get on our knees to pray.  We become like children when we thank God not just before meals but repeatedly for the many graces we receive.  Finally, we become like children – the best of them at least – when we can share the little we have with others.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

(Nehemiah 2:1-8; Matthew 18:1-5.10)

We should not understand the gospel today to mean that only children have guardian angels.  Jesus’ vision is more inclusive than that.  Each of us is protected by angels, the distributors of God’s mercy.  This truth is evidenced in the whole passage of which today’s reading forms the beginning and middle.  

Jesus warns his disciples that they are to look after weak Christians who stray from the faith.  In a recent novel a young pastor gets wind that a new member of his congregation is having an adulterous affair.  He goes to investigate one evening and sees a woman leaving the man’s apartment.  Not waiting to investigate further, the pastor confronts his parishioner.  He tells the adulterer to stay away from Sunday worship until he has chosen definitively for the Lord.  The man knows what he must do and ends the affair. 

When errant Christians stop praying or when they choose sinful pleasure over doing God’s will, we are to assist their return to righteousness.  It may be counter-productive to confront sinners head on, but we can always pray for them.  Jesus makes clear that if his disciples fail to intervene in some way, they will face dire consequences since weak Christians also have angels in direct communication with God.

Tuesday, October 2 2012

Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

(Job 3:1-3.11-17.20-23; Matthew 18:1-5.10)

St. Augustine is famous for saying to his people: "I am fearful of what I am for you, but I draw strength from what I am with you. For you I am a bishop, and with you I am a Christian. The former designates an office received, the latter the foundation of salvation." Obviously, Augustine hardly took his work as a bishop as a privilege; rather, it was an onerous obligation placed upon him. It meant reproving the people when they were thinking erroneously and providing basic resources when they experienced dire need. It would not be unfair to call Augustine’s chores like being a Guardian Angel to his congregation.

Guardian Angels specify God’s love. He takes care of human beings by setting their hearts on the supreme good, which is Himself, and providing the means to sustain themselves physically. In the gospel Jesus speaks of children having angels in heaven charged with these tasks. But that does not exclude the possibility of God extending such personal care to everyone. After all, in a sense all humans are God’s children.

Today we give thanks to God for His constant and unsurpassable love by remembering His instruments, the Guardian Angels. The surety of God’s watching over us should prompt us to take similar care of one another.

Memorial of the Guardian Angels

(Baruch 1:15-22; Matthew 18:1-5.10)

We should not understand the gospel today to mean that only children have guardian angels. Jesus’ vision is more inclusive than that. Each of us is protected by angels through God’s mercy. This truth is evidenced in the whole passage of which today’s reading forms the beginning and middle.

Jesus warns his disciples that they are to look after weak Christians who stray from the faith. In a recent novel a young pastor gets wind that a new member of his congregation is having an adulterous affair. He goes to investigate one evening and sees a woman leaving the man’s apartment. Not waiting to investigate further, the pastor confronts his parishioner. He tells the adulterer to stay away from Sunday worship until he has chosen definitively for the Lord. The man knows what he must do and ends the affair.

When errant Christians stop praying or when they choose pleasure over doing God’s will, we are to assist their return to righteousness. Sometimes it will be counter-productive to confront sinners, but we must at least pray for them. Jesus makes clear that if his disciples fail to intervene in such a matter, they will face dire consequences since weak Christians also have angels in direct communication with God.

Homily for Thursday, October 2, 2008

Memorial of the Guardian Angels

(Matthew 18:1-5;10)

We should not understand Jesus to mean that only children have guardian angels. His vision is more inclusive than that. This truth is evidenced in the gospel passage of which today’s reading forms the beginning and middle. Jesus is warning his disciples to look after weak Christians who may stray from practicing the faith. When errant Christians stop praying or when they choose pleasure over doing God’s will, the disciples are to call them back to righteousness. Jesus makes clear that if the disciples fail to intervene, they will face dire consequences since weak Christians have angels in direct communication with God.

Although we may console ourselves with the thought of having guardian angels to look after our welfare, we should as well hear Jesus’ warning in the greater gospel passage. We who come to daily Mass are strengthened to assist weaker Christians. This does not mean that we nag them but that we show them concerned care. We need to share with them our faith in God as the one who provides full happiness. We also want to model for them the joy of living the Gospel. Finally, we will pray for them not just once but regularly.

Homilette for Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Memorial of the Guardian Angels

(Matthew 18:1-5;10)

We should not understand Jesus to mean that only children have guardian angels. His vision is more inclusive than that. What we have just heard is the beginning and ending of a longer passage in which Jesus issues a warning to his disciples. They are to look after weak Christians who may stray from practicing the faith. When these Christians stop praying or when they choose pleasure over doing God’s will, the disciples are to step in. If they don’t, Jesus makes clear, the disciples face dire consequences since the weak Christians have angels in direct communication with God.

Although we may console ourselves with the thought of having guardian angels to look after our welfare, we should as well hear Jesus’ warning. We who come to daily Mass are often the strong ones who must assist weaker Christians. This does not mean that we nag them but that we show them our care. We can share with them our faith in God as the one who provides full happiness. We can tell them of our concern that they too experience God’s love. We can model for them the joy of living the Gospel. Finally, we can pray for them not just once in a while but daily.