The Feast of Guardian Angels

 

Exo. 23: 20-23

Mt 18: 1-5,10

Today we celebrate the feast of Guardian angels. The word Angel comes from Greek word aggelos which means messenger. We have been taught from our child hood that everyone has a guardian angel.  They are appointed by God to  protect us and guide us for eternal life. As we celebrate the feast of Guardian angels we pray to God that we feel their presence in our lives...there are times when we were protected by our guardian angels but never acknowledged. Yesterday I was telling you that we are the messenger of peace. Today the messenger is the angel. Can we be guardian angel to each other. The angel brings good news, protects and guides one to attain eternal life.

To participate worthily in Holy Eucharist, we ask pardon form God.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The first reading is all about the angel. The first reading ends with : if you listen to what  he says and fulfill what I say to you, I will be enemy of your enemies. ...and so on...this is the assurance God gives us that he is always with us but he never forces... it is our free choice whether to be with Him or without Him.

In the Gospel Jesus speaks about a little child. A child is vulnerable. Those who are innocent, weak in the society physically and economically  are like a child who are  taken for a ride. Jesus warns us today not to despise one of these little ones.

Let's ask to oneself ; Have I ever neglected the vulnerable around me?

May God bless us with his words.

Saint Therese of Child Jesus

Today we  celebrates the feast of St. Therese of Child Jesus. She was born on 2nd January 1873 in a devout family. At the age of 15 she was admitted in Convent. She was favored by signal grace/ extraordinary grace, and advanced rapidly  and constantly in Holiness, so that at the age of 22 she was appointed novice mistress.

o   A child like simplicity

o   utter humility

o   constant self sacrifice

o   And a boundless love of God and trust in him were some of her most outstanding virtues.

She died young at the age 24, she neither had much education nor stepped outside her convent, yet, she is honored by the church as a doctor of the church, as one who understood the great mysteries of God and taught them to the world.

She is known for her little way,  which means doing even the smallest things with great love.

As we remember and celebrate  her feast we ask through her intercession that we may imbibe some of her good qualities and do our assigned works with great love for God.

To partake in today's Holy banquet worthily we cleanse ourselves by asking pardon from God for the sins committed.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today's reading reminds us that We all of us are messenger of peace.

Am I peaceful within to share peace with others. We visit families, friends and relatives, do I greet them with peace or before I leave their home do I pray for God's blessings on them.

I can give you only what I have.

Jesus is the King of peace we ask the blessings from him in this holy Eucharist that we will be a channel of peace in the world. May God bless us with his words.