Guardian Angels
The memorial of the Guardian Angels celebrates a reality we sometimes ignore. We exist in a reality that extends beyond the material. God not only created us; he created non-corporeal beings who have a purpose: to assist us throughout life. This is the reason we celebrate the angels once a year.
First Reading and Psalm are from the Daily Readings
Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10
1 In that hour, the disciples came to JESUS, saying, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" 2 Inviting a child, (HE) made him stand in the midst of them 3 and said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, Unless you turn (back) and become like children, (you) can not (ever) enter the Kingdom of heaven. 4 So, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven 5 and whoever welcomes one such child in MY name welcomes ME."
10 "See (that) you should not despise one of these little ones. For I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of MY Father, the one in heaven."
18:2 "Inviting a child..." All the references to children in this passage refer to males. We assume the Greek word best translated as "boy" had a non-gender meaning.
18:5 "...whoever welcomes one such child in MY name welcomes ME." Here, Jesus switched the meaning of "child" from the underaged to the missionary who the disciple receives with hospitality.
18:10 "... their angels in heaven always look upon the face of MY Father..." The phrase "always look upon the face of my Father' meant "in the constant presence of God." The context indicated these celestial beings always interceded for their earthly charges.
This passage opened with a question of leadership from the disciples. "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom?" Jesus turned this inquiry into rank towards one of character. The greatest was the one at the bottom of the social ladder, the child. In the time of Jesus, children were not only to be "seen and not heard" (as the old adage goes), they were to be invisible. They were to go about their tasks quietly as servants until they reached the age of maturity. So, Jesus equated greatness with humble service.
As the note above mentioned, Jesus extended this ideal to the missionary. Those who traveled to spread the Good News were the servants of the Church. On the road in a pagan culture, they faced the abuse a child might endure in an unruly clan. But they were an extension of the messianic mission Jesus began in Galilee; hence they were his instruments. So, the Christian who extended the missionary hospitality not only received them, that disciple welcomed the presence of the Lord the missionary preached.
Finally, this passage addressed the notion of the guardian angel. Hebrew Scripture saw the angel as a messenger from God to an individual or a group (Exodus 32:34, Psalm 91:11, Psalm 33:8 and 34:5). Soon, they took on the role of intercessor (Job 33:23-26, and in Daniel 10:13). In the New Testament, these functions were generally assumed (Revelation 2:1-29 and Revelation 3:1-22). Matthew 18:10b also made this assumption. The angels assigned to the faithful, individually and collectively, constantly interceded for charge in the divine presence. So, 18:10a warned anyone who rashly judges one of these "children" lest they endure God's wrath.
In the culture of materialism, it's so easy to forget reality extends beyond the physical. Yet, with a little reflection, we realize there is more to life than what we see, hear, smell, and touch. We live in a spiritual world that has its own rules. Today, we celebrate those who not only inhabit that world, but those who help us navigate both the spiritual and physical realms: the angels.
Have you thought of your guardian angel lately?