(Oct 2, 2009)

The Guardian Angels

Fr James McTavish FMVD

A Google search on the word “Angels” will reveal 102 million hits. Angels are definitely in fashion. What are they? Who are they? Do they really exist? What is their task or function? You may be surprised that their purpose is not just to fly around heaven playing the harp or even posing for the latest Christmas card designs. Angel in Greek means “messenger” and these guys or gals mean business (the angels are sexless by the way as they are spiritual creatures!) They are also created beings but immortal. They have will and intelligence and surpass in perfection all visible creatures. What is the work of the guardian angels in particular? Here we are obviously not referring to the New York vigilante group who protect you on your subway journey instead the heavenly angels who guard us on the journey of life.

The fact that angels assist and help those on earth is well attested to in Sacred Scripture and is seen clearly in the life of Jesus. Before he was born an angel advised Joseph to take Mother Mary into his home and then later warned them to get out of Egypt because Herod was going to massacre all the newborn males. The angels were active in protecting the child Jesus. Later when Jesus was tested in the desert, the angels ministered to him. In the middle of his Passion, he stated that he could call down 12 legions of angels if he had wanted to. So we see how the angels guarded and protected Jesus.

We too have angels guarding and protecting us. In the first reading of today from the book of Exodus we have “See I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on your 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 sins. 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” (Exodus 23, 20-22). In today’s Gospel (Matthew 18, 1-5.10) Jesus says “See that you do not despise one of these little children, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father” (Mt 18,10). The Catechism of the Catholic Church also refers to our guardian angels “Human life is surrounded by their watchful care and protection” (CCC #336). A person I know was suffering after the death of their mother. In the night an angel with huge feathery wings came in a dream. It seemed so real that the next day she was searching for feathers under the bed. But more than finding feathers she found peace in her heart over the death of her mother which convinced her she had really been visited by an angel.

St Bernard wrote beautiful homilies about the guardian angels. Referring to the Scripture verse which states ‘He has given his angels charge over you to guard you in all your ways’ St Bernard commented that these words should fill us with respect, inspire devotion and instil confidence. “Respect for the presence of angles, devotion because of their loving service, and confidence because of their loving protection.” So the angels are here at our side, here to protect us and serve us. As God’s children we need their protection. St Bernard continues “Even though we are children we have a long, a very long and dangerous way to go, but with our guardian angels protecting us what do we have to fear? Our angels are loyal, prudent, powerful. Why be afraid? Just stay close to your guardian angel, follow them and we shall remain in God’s presence”.

And in some ways we can be guardian angels to one another. Once we found an elderly man who had fallen down in the street. We took him to hospital, fixed him up and presented him back to his family. “You are angels!” they exclaimed. And don’t forget the angels in disguise! “Be hospitable to others. By doing so you may be welcoming an angel” (See Hebrews 13,1). We close with a prayer to our guardian angels: 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, to rule and guide. Amen