Gospel: October 2, 2025
October 2, 2025 (Thursday)
26th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 2 / (White)
The Holy Guardian Angels
Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11
The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
1st Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12
Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10
At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child, set the child in the midst of the disciples, and said, “I assure you, that, unless you change, and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever becomes humble, like this child, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whoever receives such a child, in my name, receives me. See that you do not despise any of these little ones; for I tell you, their angels in heaven continually see the face of my heavenly Father.
Reflection:
“We are all as little children before God.”
Above my bed when I was a child was the prayer to my guardian angel: a simple rhyming prayer seeking accompaniment throughout each day and thus, throughout life. Perhaps as we grow up, we might pray the prayer less often, and pay less attention to our guardian angel. However, this means that we are not living our faith like a little child. This doesn’t mean that praying to angels is childish. Rather, Christ’s words remind us that we are all as little children before God. To think otherwise is pride. We always need God’s help, and we struggle when we try to go it alone.
Therefore, we need the assistance of God’s servants, his angels and his saints, to intercede for us and to guide us. To ask for this help is not childish or foolish; it’s wise and spiritually mature! In his Introduction to the Devout Life, Saint Francis de Sales wrote several meditations in which we are to imagine ourselves standing with our guardian angel. Thus, he is encouraging us to remember that we are constantly being accompanied and protected. Seek to be familiar with them, he exhorts, and ask their protection in all you do.
