Guardian angels reflect the reality of the invisible realm of the Kingdom of God, on that is already actively participating in the history of salvation.
The church teaches the following as found in the Catechism
"from its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God."
As Jesus reminds us in today's gospel, the angel always beholds the face of our heavenly father. The primary way the angel guards and protects us is by adoration. Through their adoration we are strengthen and guided by goodness. As the angel looks on the face of our heavenly Father they actually see us most clearly and purely. This of course means that the Father's sole attention, whole and complete is given over to each of individually and all of us collectively. Talk about multi tasking. But only in gazing at the Father are they able to understand what we need as we journey forth.
When we imitate the angels by bowing in adoration before our heavenly father, we too grow in goodness and in our own ability to recognize God's plan and to assist others in growing in strength and goodness as well. I think the reality is this: as we lift our heart to God in prayer we necessarily open our heart more perfectly to our brothers and sisters.
Be mindful of your guardian angels and the guardian angels of others. Just as God seeks to give us divine assistance along the way so too he desires to give that same assistance to every one we meet along this way. This alone should give us a pause when dealing with others.
Just as our angel beholds the face of our Heavenly father so to the angels of others behold the same face.
Today we introduce the virtue of gratitude to ur students
Here are a few words of ST Ignatius
"It seems to me, in light of the divine Goodness though others may think differently, that ingratitude is one of the things most worthy of detestation before our Creator and Lord, and before all creatures capable of his divine and everlasting glory, out of all the evils and sins which can be imagined. For it is a failure to recognize the good things, the graces, and the gifts received. As such, it is the cause, beginning, and origin of all evils and sins, On the contrary, recognition and gratitude of the good things and gifts received is greatly loved and esteemed both in heaven and on earth."
Today We introduce the virtue of Thanksgiving to the students at the school here at St Michael. Last month we focused on Self-control. This month: thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is mentioned many times in a variety of forms in Sacred Scripture. It is every where commanded as a necessary attitude of the Believer and disciple. Give thanks always in all circumstances St Paul tells us. We know that. But do we know what St Pauls says happens to those who do not give thanks and thus fail to honor God. In Romans 1:21 we have these words of St Paul, "For although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. They became fools." He says much more about this as you keep reading. Just something to think about.
Perhaps God doesn’t necessarily want us always to be saying “thank you” so much as to be noticing how much we are loved and cared for by Him and, in turn, to respond by living a life of gratitude. Grateful people tend to be more generous and magnanimous with others.
Gratitude is the ability to see more clearly;
No comments:
Post a Comment