† Quote of the Day "Make friends with the angels, who though invisible are always with you. Often invoke them, constantly praise them, and make good use of their help and assistance in all your temporal and spiritual affairs." -St. Francis de Sales Today's Meditation "St. Luke tells us that "there appeared to Him [in the Garden of Gethsemane] an angel from heaven to strengthen him" (22:43). It was an angel in human form, as the expression used by St. Luke indicates an apparition visible to bodily eyes. An angel announced Christ's coming into the world, a choir of angels proclaimed His birth, and after the temptation in the desert, angels came to minister to Him. The angels who ministered to Jesus came to assist Him after the trial of the forty days' fast and the temptation. In Gethsemane an angel appeared in order to strengthen Him in advance for the awful climax of His mental anguish in the agony and bloody sweat. Jesus' sufferings were concentrated in His soul, but from the soul they overflowed to the body, distressing and weakening it. It is likely, therefore, that the angel brought Jesus strength for both soul and body." —Fr. Ralph Gorman, C.P.
An excerpt from The Last Hours of Jesus - From Gethsemane to Golgotha Daily Verse The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers that do his will! -Psalm 103:19-21 | Guardian Angels October 2nd is the Feast of the Guardian Angels. Although Guardian Angels have been venerated since the early days of the Church, it wasn't until the 17th century that Pope Clement X extended their feast day to the Universal Church. Although not a dogmatic article of the faith, it is a firmly established Catholic belief that each individual human being has their own Guardian Angel assigned to them by God to watch over their soul, help them avoid sin and temptation, and lead them to heaven, taken in part from Jesus' words in the Gospel of Matthew: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father." The Church thanks God for our heavenly helpers, the Guardian Angels, who minister to us in our need and guide us on the path of salvation. | Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels • Readings for the Memorial of the Guardian Angels
Reading 1 Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12 The whole people gathered as one in the open space before the Water Gate,
and they called upon Ezra the scribe
to bring forth the book of the law of Moses
which the LORD prescribed for Israel.
On the first day of the seventh month, therefore,
Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly,
which consisted of men, women,
and those children old enough to understand.
Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate,
he read out of the book from daybreak until midday,
in the presence of the men, the women,
and those children old enough to understand;
and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform
that had been made for the occasion.
He opened the scroll
so that all the people might see it
(for he was standing higher up than any of the people);
and, as he opened it, all the people rose.
Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God,
and all the people, their hands raised high, answered,
"Amen, amen!"
Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD,
their faces to the ground.
As the people remained in their places,
Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God,
interpreting it so that all could understand what was read.
Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe
and the Levites who were instructing the people
said to all the people:
"Today is holy to the LORD your God.
Do not be sad, and do not weep"–
for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
He said further: "Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks,
and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared;
for today is holy to our LORD.
Do not be saddened this day,
for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!"
And the Levites quieted all the people, saying,
"Hush, for today is holy, and you must not be saddened."
Then all the people went to eat and drink,
to distribute portions, and to celebrate with great joy,
for they understood the words that had been expounded to them. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11
R. (9ab) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple. R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye; R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just. R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. Alleluia Psalm 103:21 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Bless the LORD, all you angels,
you ministers, who do his will.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Matthew 18:1-5, 10 The disciples approached Jesus and said,
"Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. "See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father." | Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Matthew 18:1-5, 10 Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven? (Matthew 18:1) It's ironic, isn't it? When the disciples approached Jesus in today's Gospel and asked who was the greatest in his kingdom, Jesus pointed to a child! In Jesus' time, children were the least important members of society. So telling the disciples they had to "turn and become like children" in order to even enter his kingdom must have puzzled them (Matthew 18:3). How could choosing to be unimportant make you important? It seemed backwards! On today's feast of the Guardian Angels, we encounter something else that seems backwards: that each of us has our own personal angel to help us! Angels are immortal beings who "always look upon the face of [our] heavenly Father" (Matthew 18:10). Why would they even bother with us? The answer is humility. Jesus said that those who humble themselves are greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4). By placing a child before his disciples, he was showing them that they needed to put aside their worldly ways of thinking about fame or status and embrace the ways of the kingdom of God, where even the greatest—Jesus himself—was the servant of all. That's the kind of "greatness" on display when we look at the guardian angels. They are happy to imitate Jesus in his humility and are delighted to serve God and do his bidding. Even though they are awe-inspiring in their own right, they happily embrace their role to "light and guard, to rule and guide" us. They freely do it out of love for God—and for us! So let the guardian angels be an example for you today about the greatness that comes from humility. Let them show you how love leads to joyful service. Ask your guardian angel to pray for you, that you could embrace that same attitude and make serving the Lord your top priority. And as you do, ask him to help you discern how you can best put your skills and talents to work for the sake of God's kingdom. "Lord, thank you for giving me a guardian angel to look out for me. Help me imitate the humility and servant's heart of all the angels!" Nehemiah 8:1-12
Psalm 19:8-11 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Ai Audio 2cents | From today's Holy Gospel: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father....." Word of the Lord. | Wait a minute...do not despise who? A little one?
But, we live in a world where little ones are despised! Abortion, even up to the point of birth, they are allowed to be despised and rejected!
But...it goes further...the rejection then begins after they are born.
Even in the days of our Lord, children were considered not as important as grown ups. Child sacrifice was even rampant in the Aztecs in this side of the world. Why does this evil exist, and why does it become allowable?
And it goes further than murder. Now, sadly, things are worse, when we allow our children on to the internet unfiltered, with no morals.
They grow up despondent. They grow up depressed. They grow deprived the natural good that becomes disordered.
And now let's talk about full blown adults. Despised. Most often, the despised are the ones who stick their necks out for the Lord, the little ones, God's child, like Jesus, simply....living to do God's will.
There is a true child...with no duplicity, says our Lord.
A true child is precious. Does not this child want to see its Father....in Heaven? You can, if you are pure. Pure of heart. Pure as you are designed...in His image. We are destined to this truth and reality that we must not only conceptualize with faith formation, but to live it out.
Faith must not be hidden. Faith is to be lived.
Do you despise a little one? What if everyone is a little one in God's eyes?
Lord, help us to see You, and in those around us. Help us cherish the little ones, and in doing so...become little ourselves. |  Audio of Random Verse | Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 29:11 "May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless1 his people with peace!"
Word of the Lord! | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
