Tag: Guardian Angels

“Whoever listens to you listens to me.” | Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi

From the responsorial psalm: “O LORD, you have probed me and you know me; you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 10:13-16)

Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

For those who hear and reject the proclamation of the kingdom of God and reject, Jesus says, “Woe to you!” In the first reading, Job heard the call to repentance as the LORD addressed him. In response, he said, “Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you?” In choosing to live a life of poverty, Saint Francis also heard the call and responded, abandoning wealth to follow Christ, who made himself poor for our sake. “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”

God, I long to hear your voice. How is it I have difficulty hearing you, yet where can I go from your spirit, and from your presence where can I flee? I know you are the giver of every good gift, yet there are times when your voice is indistinct or completely silent. I want to listen to you; let me hear your voice. Meet me in my poverty of spirit, Lord, and let me know your presence. Saint Francis, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ | Thursday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time

From the responsorial psalm: “I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 10:1-12)

Jesus said to the disciples: “Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”

As he sends out the seventy-two disciples, Jesus provides step-by-step instructions for the drama of missionary life. He shares with them what they are to do as they enter and exit whatever town, and he also tells them their line: “The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.” In teaching the disciples, Jesus also teaches us how to move about in peace as we enter and exit the lives of others we encounter throughout the day.

God, help me hear the words of Jesus and carry them with me through the end of the day. Although there might not be an opportunity to tell someone the kingdom of God is at hand for them, I have the moments you give me to see in them the gift of your presence. In recognition of your absence, I have the opportunity to long for you; in lack of recognition, that possibility goes away. Give me the grace, Lord, to know that the day is not about me but that I am made to see you face to face in your kingdom. Help me remember the words of Job: “And from my flesh I shall see God; my inmost being is consumed with longing.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

About the reality of angels—”their angels,” as Jesus says—he leaves no doubt. They look eternally on the face of our heavenly Father. Our holy guardian angels—guide us, protect us, and pray for us!

From the responsorial psalm: “Let my prayer come before you, Lord. Daily I call upon you, O LORD; to you I stretch out my hands. Will you work wonders for the dead? Will the shades arise to give you thanks? Let my prayer come before you, Lord.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 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.”

Jesus responds to the disciples’ question about where greatness lies. In inviting them to humble themselves, he places a child before them to serve as an example. The kingdom of heaven is theirs and those whose humility is like theirs. Jesus asks us to receive the childlike in his name, and through that we receive him. About the reality of angels—”their angels,” as Jesus says—he leaves no doubt. They look eternally on the face of our heavenly Father.

St. Gertrude’s Prayer to One’s Guardian Angel: O most holy angel of God, appointed by God to be my guardian, I give thee thanks for all the benefits which thou hast ever bestowed on me in body and soul. I praise and glorify thee that thou condescended to assist me with such patient fidelity, and to defend me against all the assaults of my enemy. Blessed be the hour in which thou were assigned me for my guardian, my defender and my patron. In acknowledgment and return for all thy loving ministries to me, I offer thee the infinitely precious and noble Heart of Jesus, and firmly purpose to obey thee henceforward, and most faithfully to serve my God. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“. . . unless you turn and become like children.” | Memorial of the Guardian Angels

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 18:1-5, 10)

Jesus said to the disciples: “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.”

Jesus teaches the importance of humility, simplicity, and care for the vulnerable in the kingdom of heaven. All of us are called to embrace trust and humility and to value and protect the most vulnerable in society. Consider what Jesus is really saying when he refers to little ones as a “child such as this”; that is, all of us—every person. Jesus refers to the love of his Father in being childlike and receiving children in his name as a way of receiving him. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones,” Jesus says, “for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” To become like children and to receive the childlike in Jesus’ name—how far can one take that to heart?

Father in heaven, help me understand what Jesus is saying in today’s Gospel. To be childlike in faith challenges my sense of self-reliance and status that have developed in maturity. Find a way through to my hardness of heart in receiving your love and in turn caring for others. Give me the grace today to trust you with a childlike heart, recognizing with joy that my guardian angel always looks upon your face. In that, let me take delight in recalling throughout the day that I am never apart from you for even a second.

From the first reading from the prophet Zechariah: “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Lo, I will rescue my people from the land of the rising sun, and from the land of the setting sun. I will bring them back to dwell within Jerusalem. They shall be my people, and I will be their God, with faithfulness and justice.” Guardian angel, be ever present to help and guide me!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.