Thursday – HH. Angel Guardians

All people are guided, protected and preserved by God’s angels.

Invitation

May I hereby draw your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?

This invitation wants to share with You the joy
of the Gospel. Everyone, no one excepted,
can experience that joy by opening their hearts
to the healing power of God’s word.

Available every day.

Consideration

Much is written about angels today. Compared to some, sometimes very imaginative authors, who detail the types of angels, today’s scripture readings do seem very discreet. What is particularly highlighted is the belief that in angels, God makes us know his loving protection and nearness. On the way through the desert of our lives, God wants to remain close to his children, protecting and guiding them. Anyone who reflects God’s countenance on this journey can be an angel in human form.

FIRST READING            Ex 23, 20-23a
My angel will go out before you

From the Book of Exodus

Thus speaks the Lord :
“Behold, I will send forth my angel before you
to protect you on the way
and to bring you to the place I have appointed.
“Take heed to him and listen to his word.
“Do not rebel against Him ,
for he would not forgive your rebellion.
“For in him is My name present.
“If ye obey his word
and do what I tell you,
then I am the enemy of thine enemies,
the oppressor of thy oppressors.
“My angel shall go forth before thee.”

INTERLUDIUM           Ps. 91(90), 1-2, 3-5a, 5b-6, 10-11

The Lord has charged his angels
in all thy ways to guard thee.

Thou who hast the protection of the Most High
and who dwell in the shadow of the Almighty,
to thee is the Lord : My refuge my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.

For He loosens you from the snare of the hunters,
He rescues thee from mortal danger.
He will protect thee with his wings,
under his wings thou wilt find refuge,
his faithfulness is thy armour and shield.

No mischief by night thou needst fear,
no arrow in broad daylight ;
no disease creeping in the darkness,
no malady in the glowing sun.

Evil shall not reach thee,
disaster shall remain far from thy tent.
He has charged his angels
on all thy ways to guard thee.

 

ALLELUIA            Ps. 103(102), 21

Alleluia.
Glorify the Lord, all His armies,
faithful servants who do what He wills;
Alleluia.

 

GOSPEL              Mt 18, 1-5.10

They have angels,
and these behold continually the face
of my Father who is in heaven.

From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew

At that time, the disciples addressed to Jesus the question :
“Who indeed is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
He called a little child,
put it in their midst and said :
“Verily, I say unto you :
If ye become not again like the little children ,
ye shall certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever therefore considers himself small like this child ,
is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
“And whoever in My Name takes up such a child
taketh up Me.
“Beware of scorning one of these little ones ,
for I say to you :
They have angels in heaven
and these behold continually
the face of My Father who is in heaven.”

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Fratelli tutti

Encyclical of

POPE FRANCISCUS

On caring for the common home

141. From the other side, economic growth tends to produce automatisms
produce and “homogenise” in order to simplify processes
and reduce costs. Therefore, we need an economic ecolog,
capable of getting us to look at reality from a broader perspective
to look at reality. After all, “protecting the environment
will have to be a necessary part of the development process
and should not be viewed in isolation”. But at the same time, the
urgency of humanism, which appeals to
the various sectors of knowledge, including economic ones, for a
more integral and integrative vision. Today, the analysis of environmental problems is inseparable from the analysis of the context of human
family, work and city and of each person’s relationship with himself, which
also determines the way he interacts with others and the environment. There
interaction between ecosystems and the various social
subareas and thus shows once again that “the whole is more than the part”.
 
To be continued
Every day at 1 am