Our Angels Watch Over Us
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.” (Mt 18:1-5,10)
How special are we?
Not only does God love us incredibly, not only did He create us in His divine image and likeness, but, He also gives to each and every one of us our own Guardian Angel to watch over us in this life so that our steps may not stumble on the way to eternal life. Therefore, we need to remember to be His loving, devoted children and to place ourselves in His hands.
Jesus indicated this in today’s gospel. When the disciples wanted to know who was greatest in the Kingdom of heaven — presumably because of their own aspirations to be the greatest — Jesus brought a child into their midst and instructed them that they needed to be like a child: totally dependent upon God’s love.
This was not an answer that they would have expected nor an answer that was much appreciated. After all, children were powerless, they were weak, they were dependent. They needed others to watch over them, to care for them, to protect them. They were not their own people.
Precisely, the Lord would say.
Precisely.
When we realize our dependence, our weakness, our inability to care for ourselves, that is when we can turn everything over to the Lord. He is the one who will provide for us if we only allow.
Today, on the feast of the Guardian Angels, bask in God’s love and try not to make your angel work overtime.
FAITH ACTION: Reflect upon the words of the Guardian Angel prayer and ask your angel to watch over you this day.
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.