MEMORIAL OF THE GUARDIAN ANGELS

Zechariah 8:1-8

The word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts shall be called the holy mountain. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the Lord of hosts? Thus says the Lord of hosts: I will save my people from the east country and from the west country; and I will bring them to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.

Psalm 102:16-23

The nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory. For the Lord will build up Zion; he will appear in his glory. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and will not despise their prayer.

Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord: that he looked down from his holy height, from heaven the Lord looked at the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die; so that the name of the Lord may be declared in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem, when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.

Matthew 18:1-5, 10

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

“Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.

(NRSVCE)

Meditation

When we read the words, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven,” we know we must consider what this means for us.

It is a delightful thing for old and young to be together, though in our society, senior citizens are often separated into special residences. Children remind us of our youth, our simplicity, and our openness to whatever God has in store for us.

Children delight us and make us think about God’s masterwork of the human race with ancestors, nurturing parents, and laws made to protect them. Children compel others to provide for their needs. They make us desire to protect them considering their innocence and in experience. They are helpless to fulfill their own needs but are content when their basic needs are met. They love to laugh, to play, and if they get hurt, they cry. They do not know the meaning of their suffering but are quick to forget it. They desire intently to grow up and mature into the models they see around them. They ask many questions.

All children are treasured by God and reveal God’s creativity and beauty. As children of God, we love our Father and our heavenly Mother. We go to them with our troubles. They help us discover the gifts we have been given, and help us trust in their love above all else.

How can I become more of a little child today? Do I need to surrender a problem and trust it to my Father? Do I need to find my path? We ask our Father to protect and provide for us so that we can grow up into him with the humility and simplicity of a child.