Angels Tread Where They Like, Thank You Very Much
Oct 2: Memorial of the Guardian Angels
Sometimes it feels like the YouTube algorithm knows the upcoming lectionary readings. This popped up in my feed yesterday—
Or maybe it’s just these two monks know how to play to the algo? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Reading 1
Ex 23:20-23
Thus says the LORD: "See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and heed his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority resides in him. If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes.
"My angel will go before you and bring you to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites; and I will wipe them out."
Angels aren’t dead people; they’re a different kind of creation altogether. One of their jobs, though, is to guide humanity to be closer to the Lord. Sometimes, it’s in a big, showy manner, like the angel leading the Israelites through the desert.
Many saints have been blessed with visions of angels, but since angels are incorporeal, we don’t usually see them. Usually, angels appear in subtler ways, as a voice in our heads, or even an intuition.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 91:1-2, 3-4ab, 4c-6, 10-11
R. The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
R. The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler,
from the destroying pestilence.
With his pinions he will cover you,
and under his wings you shall take refuge.
R. The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
His faithfulness is a buckler and a shield.
You shall not fear the terror of the night
nor the arrow that flies by day;
Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness,
nor the devastating plague at noon.
R. The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
No evil shall befall you,
nor shall affliction come near your tent,
For to his angels he has given command about you,
that they guard you in all your ways.
R. The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
Exodus is the first mention of a guardian angel in the Bible, watching over a whole nation. But not every angel has such a big job. Some are assigned to individual people.
In fact, while it’s not an article of faith,1 it’s always been a common belief in the Church that every individual has a guardian angel. St. Jerome said, “How great the dignity of the soul, since each one has from his birth an angel commissioned to guard it.”
One of my favorite books, The Screwtape Letters, is about their opposite number.2
But there are lots of scriptural reference to guardian angels, including today’s psalm. It’s not that God can’t watch us individually; God is all-powerful. But he allows angels to participate in salvation in a similar, though not identical, manner that we do.
Oh, yeah, one more thing—if the Psalm sounds familiar, you’ve definitely heard it at mass sometime or other…
Alleluia
Ps 103:21
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Bless the LORD, all you angels,
you ministers, who do his will.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A guardian angel’s job is to protect you, but the angel, having seen the face of God, knows that he’s3 not truly your savior. He’s simply God’s personal representative in your life. He’s always there for you, and you should thank him for his work.4
Gospel
Mt 18:1-5, 10
The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, 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. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
"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."
Angels are the highest created beings we can conceive of. They spend their lives in the direct presence of God, which is too intense for us mere humans.
Which is all to emphasize Jesus’ point—the meek and humble are closer to God than anyone. Remember that “humility” in the theological sense means that you know your proper place; Jesus tells us the the proper place of these little ones is with God.
Humans don’t become angels when we die, but if our hearts are formed with the right attitude, we’ll be with them in the presence of our mutual Creator some day.
Meaning Catholics are obligated to believe it.
I asked my priest once, what’s the opposite of a guardian angel? He said there was no term for it, so I’ll call them “tempting devils.”
I’ve had this idea for a long time to write a script about a guy who can actually see his guardian angel and tempting devil, but per the rules of Screwtape, they can’t communicate with each other. Comical theological debates, conveyed by a game of human telephone, ensue.
Angels don’t really have gender, but saying he-or-she is clunky and I find the singular “they” confusing much of the time.
I’ve heard (but can’t find a clear citation) that St. Josemaria would hold the door open for people a little too long, to allow their guardian angel to enter the room, too.