Of angels and humility

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.

A Prayer to Guardian Angels.

 

Jesus places the child in their midst and says – in today’s Gospel – “… 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.”

So here I am at the age of 53, still trying to find my inner child.

But at the same time, I also work hard at tapping into my inner adult so that I can understand the Gospels, the Homilies and the Lectures in our lives. As an adult, I need to comprehend things that I did not know when I was just a child.

So, there we have it … a conflicting message on what should be an easy lesson from our Lord.

Today would be a good day for me to ask my Guardian Angel for a little bit of help. That’s because today is also the Church’s Memorial of the Guardian Angels – a special day where we reflect on those who we cannot see.

Those who watch over us while always keeping one eye on God.

Those who stand ready to keep us from slipping off the edges of the cliffs we create with our pride.

The child in today’s Gospel is a symbol of the humility we need to have in order to spend eternity in heaven.

An interesting choice for such a symbol. Who knew children were prone to be naturally humble? But that is not exactly the point.

The real lesson is that children – very small and very young children – are symbols of humility because of their dependency.

Everything they need to live – to survive – comes not from the work of their own hands, but from their parents. They are totally dependent on them for their food, their water, their medical needs, their hygiene … their happiness.

They depend on mom, dad, family and others for the love that keeps them warm in their hearts and the care they need to keep their hearts pumping.

As adults, we need to realize that we are not any less dependent on God for everything – our food, our water, our medicine. Our capacity to give and receive love.

Without His gifts, especially the gifts of the Holy Spirit – wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety and fear of the Lord – we wouldn’t stand a chance in this world.

We all receive these gifts – doled out in just the right measures as he knits us in the wombs of our mothers. It’s our jobs to discern those gifts and put them to good use.

And to always remember that we are just a single breath away from having it all taken away.

Do you wake up every morning and thank God for, well, allowing you to wake up?

That’s what Jesus means about total dependence … like a child.

Jesus wants us to realize our own need for God … to stop walking around like we have all the answers … to recognize our own mortality.

You can almost hear God chuckle when someone utters the phrase: “Hey God, do you know what I plan to do tomorrow?”

It would show more wisdom to utter: “Dear Lord, I don’t know what you have planned for me tomorrow, but I ask you to give me guidance and strength to do your will … not my own.”

And then you can thank him and adore him the way a child looks at his mother.

When we reach that level of humility, we are not far from the kingdom of heaven.

About the Author

Dan McFeely is a Carmel, Indiana, writer, communications business owner, book editor and a former professional journalist. Dan also works as an Adult Faith Formation Minister, currently serving as a spiritual director for the men's and women's Christ Renews His Parish program at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Carmel. He is a graduate of the Ecclesial Lay Ministry program offered by the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana and has studied theology at Marian University.

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16 Comments

  1. Happy Feast day to my own Guardian Angel and to all the Guardian Angels of my loved ones and friends!

  2. Thank you Lord, for everything and for giving us our guardian angels to hang out with us. Very nice reflection!

  3. Where were the Guardian angels of those massacred in Las Vegas last night? I beg you to begin to bring the harshest realities into your scriptural interpretations. If God and His angels are our companions, our strength and our refuge, how are such atrocities to be understood?

  4. Hey Jack, you think those folks in Vegas were there for lessons on humility? Perhaps the survivors may take note and humble themselves. And to remember as Dan said, ” we are but a breath away from having it all taken away”.
    No doubt, there IS evil in this world.
    Peace Bro.

  5. What a lovely reflection you gave, Dan. Your words brought tears to my eyes. It is a long road to heaven, but one full of joys AND sorrows. Our job is to comfort the afflicted, the lonely, the downtrodden, and pray for those who do evil. They are already living Hell here on Earth, closing their hearts off from God and pursuing evil acts in their emptiness. Our job is to let God soften and stretch our hearts so they can hold more love. Prayers for the victims and those who’s lives were taken away.

  6. Dear Jack Findlay … here is the harsh reality about the tragedy of Las Vegas (which occurred after I posted this reflection). The reality is that God does not bring evil upon the world, but he permits it as a result of the free will he has given all of us to make the choices that we make. Without that free will, we would be like robots without the capacity to love; or like animals who can only act on instinct. Las Vegas was a tragedy and we should focus our prayer efforts not only for those who will be struggling to heal, but also to those in our society who are contemplating acts of evil – both big and small – and pray for their hearts to soften, to turn away from evil and to embrace the love of God. We might also want to pray that God gives all of us the opportunity to share His love through our embraces every day … but especially on days when those who are hurting the most need it … and that we have the courage to do so, no matter who he places in our lives. Amen?

  7. All the guardian angels are there! Thank God for your angels! O
    God, we know you are with all those people now. I offer my ALL to you, Dear Jesus, today to help everyone directly affected. Comfort them. I pray they feel your love and all our love! I wish I could be there to hold them but I know Jesus and all the angels are there.

  8. My thought on the tragedy in Las Vegas is that the guardian angels were there to cradle and bring the souls of those who lost their lives directly to meet Jesus. Our angels and the archangels pray for us and are around us every day. Unfortunately evil is also present and sometimes wins the battle. Constant prayer and reliance on God is the key. Our guardian angels gain strength when we pray. Pray for the souls of those who have died. Pray for the forces of evil to be suppressed. Knowing that the war is already won for us keeps us strong in our faith. Continue to pray.

  9. Hey Daniel,

    You place yourself in an unsolvable dilemma, trying to be childlike and an adult at the same time. It reminds me of a quote about life:

    “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” – Kierkegaard

    Maybe the simple way of looking at life the way a child would is all we need, treat others how you would have them treat you, leave the rest up to God.

    Mark

  10. Thanks Dan for your wonderful reflection. On the Las Vegas issue I can say evil spirit and his angels had their will done but God the Almighty will strengthen and comfort those that have been affected and rest in peace the departed souls.

    Have a good day Dan

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