Word to the Wise
Wednesday, October 2, 2019 - Oct. 2 - The Guardian Angels
[Exod 23:20-23 and Matt 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." [Matthew]
The Christian belief in the existence of angels has its roots in Jewish tradition, and Jesus extends that tradition to include the least person in God's sight. In the culture of his time, children had very little status. Jesus speaks to their importance by noting that each child (and presumably adult) is represented before God. Of course, human imagination comes into play with faith. I recall my first grade teacher, a Sister of Divine Providence, telling us to move over in our desk to give our guardian angel a place to sit down!
Angels in the Bible are agents of God's providence and care. The celebration of the feast of the Guardian Angels reminds us of the dignity of every human person as made in the image and likeness of God. Jesus reminds us not to despise the little ones but we are reminded also in the Gospel According to Matthew not to despise anyone. The Sermon on the Mount and the Last Judgment scene in Matthew provide us with Jesus' agenda and the Guardian Angels do their best to help us follow it. AMEN