Word to the Wise
Thursday, October 2, 2008 - The Guardian Angels
[Job 19:21-27 and Matthew 18:1-5, 10]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.
A famous French Dominican (I can't remember which one at the moment since I saw this quote a long time ago!) once wrote that every thing he had studied and read left him with the conviction that "God's providence rises before the dawn!" The feast of the Guardian Angels is a reminder of this profound truth. In the Gospel of Matthew which is read today the reference is not simply to children but to any of those of God's flock who have gone astray. We are all loved and protected by God's providence. Perhaps this truth about God's care in the form of a Guardian Angel was brought home to us in Catholic grade school when we were asked to move over in our desk to allow our Guardian Angel to sit down! As adults the challenge is closer to finding space in our lives at all for awareness of God's providential care. Some of us do personalize this by a deliberate recognition of the reality of an angelic presence which may "nudge" us this way or that. We even give this angel a name! A recent survey which I noted on the feast of the archangels, indicates that there is widespread acceptance of the reality of angels beyond Catholic and traditional Christian belief. The strange thing is that one doesn't hear folks speaking about this to other folks. Is this belief too personal or embarrassing? I personally believe I wouldn't be alive to write this if it weren't for God's providence in the form of a Guardian Angel or however God has wished to guide me! I've made too many foolish mistakes! I suspect I'm not the only one! If this serves as a goad to all my congregation to reflect on God's providence, I'll give thanks for the guidance that led me to write it and the network of angels nudging others to think about it! AMEN
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