My Angel will go before you
Today is the Feast of the The Holy Guardian Angels. Most adults forget about them but we teach our children to say Prayers to their guardian angels.
Here is why we honor our Guardian Angels, Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels. Also Psalm 91 For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go. Exodus 23 The Lord say this: ‘ I my self will send an angel before you to guard you as you go and to bring you the place that I have prepared…… If you listen carefully to his voice and do all that I say, I shall be enemy to your enemies, foe to your foes. My angel will go before you. and finally from our Gospel today from Matthew 18 Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heave are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven.
The problem as adults is that I am no longer a child. I am in charge or so all of us think. Yes ,God is still in charge this morning and every morning. He sends us helpers “On Eagles Wings”. We as adults still need those guardian angels to become more like the Children of God to be totally dependent on Him.
Why are we so reticent to becoming a child in the Gospel of today?
Part of the answer is sin. Children don’t sin to the extent we as strong, hopefully reasonable adults sin. Our sins are more complicated and numerous. Children are complete innocents.
How do we as adults use the help of our guardian angels?
How do we as adults become more like children in spirit?
My Bride, Anna, has a famous family story. When her two oldest boys were about 6 and 4, they knew that after a certain time in the afternoon they could not have a snack too close to super time. Anna came downstairs and caught them in the cookie jar. Well both of the denied doing it and pointed to the other boy saying they were the one who had raided the cookie jar. All the time my wife is suppressing a laugh because both had chocolate all over their faces. Where was the camera when she needed it?
Sometimes adults know the rules and still reach for the cookie jar. However, God understands our nature. He gives us graces every day to remain faithful to Him and gives us graces to see that all the things we want are not good for us.
How do we become as little as this little child to get into the Kingdom of God?
We become dependent on God. We accept the help he gives us. Yes, that help might be the neighbor going through medical problems and the kind word we give. My wife, a retired nurse, talks about how the hands of nurses are like the hands of God to some patients.
But we know we are not defenseless. The above scripture says God will send Angels. He will also send us his grace. We have spiritual armor and thanks to our guardian angels and other angels in human form to weather anything the creep throughs at us.
Renew you relationship with your, Guardian Angel today. Just like children adults need all the help they can get. We are all dependent on God. Please say the prayer we and enjoy your inner child.
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,
Rule and guide. Amen!
God Love you Always
Bob Burford
