Daily Gospel for Thursday, 2 October 2014

Daily Gospel for Thursday, 2 October 2014
"Peter replied, 'Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We’ve already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God.'"(John 6:68-69)
The Guardian Angels, memorial
Feast of the Church:
Saints of the Day:
THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS
God does not abandon to mere chance any of His handiworks; by His providence He is everywhere present; not a hair falls from the head or a sparrow to the ground without His knowledge.
Not content, however, with yielding such familiar help in all things, not content with affording that existence which He communicates and perpetuates through every living being, He has charged His angels with the ministry of watching and safeguarding every one of His creatures that behold not His face. Kingdoms have their angels assigned to them, and men have their angels; these latter it is whom religion designates as the Holy Guardian Angels.
Our Lord says in the Gospel, "Beware lest ye scandalize any of these little ones, for their angels in heaven see the face of my Father." The existence of Guardian Angels is, hence, a. dogma of the Christian faith: this being so, what ought not our respect be for that sure and holy intelligence that is ever present at our side; and how great should our solicitude be, lest, by any act of ours, we offend those eyes which are ever bent upon us in all our ways!
Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]
The Guardian Angels, memorial
Book of Exodus 23:20-24 “Now get yourselves ready. I’m sending my Angel ahead of you to guard you in your travels, to lead you to the place that I’ve prepared. Pay close attention to him. Obey him. Don’t go against him. He won’t put up with your rebellions because he’s acting on my authority. But if you obey him and do everything I tell you, I’ll be an enemy to your enemies, I’ll fight those who fight you. When my Angel goes ahead of you and leads you to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, I’ll clear the country of them. So don’t worship or serve their gods; don’t do anything they do because I’m going to wipe them right off the face of the Earth and smash their sacred phallic pillars to bits.
Psalms 91:1-13 You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
    spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.
    I trust in you and I’m safe!”
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
    shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
    under them you’re perfectly safe;
    his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
    not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
    not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
    drop like flies right and left,
    no harm will even graze you.
You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
    watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God’s your refuge,
    the High God your very own home,
Evil can’t get close to you,
    harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered his angels
    to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
    their job is to keep you from falling.
You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
    and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 18: Whoever Becomes Simple Again
1 At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, “Who gets the highest rank in God’s kingdom?”
2-5 For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.
10 “Watch that you don’t treat a single one of these childlike believers arrogantly. You realize, don’t you, that their personal angels are constantly in touch with my Father in heaven?
The Guardian Angels, memorial 
Commentary of the Day:
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897), Carmelite, Doctor of the Church 
Poem « Jesus, my beloved, remember ! » ; v.9; 11-12; 16 
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones"
Remember the heavenly affection 
You heaped on the littlest children. 
I too want to receive your caresses. 
Ah! give me your ravishing kisses. 
To enjoy your sweet presence in Heaven, 
I'll practice the virtues of childhood. 
Didn't you often say: 
"Heaven is for children"? 
Remember… 
"Come to me, poor burdened souls, 
Your heavy loads will soon be lightened, 
And, quenched forever, 
From your breast waters shall spring up" (Mt 11,28; Jn 4,15). 
O my Jesus! I thirst for this water, I crave it. 
Deign to flood my soul with its divine torrents. 
To make my dwelling 
In the Ocean of Love, 
I come to you. 
Remember that as a child of light 
I often forget to serve my King well. 
Oh! Take pity on my great misery. 
In your love, Jesus, forgive me. 
Make me wise in the ways of Heaven. 
Show me the secrets hidden in the Gospel. 
Ah! That golden book 
Is my dearest treasure, 
Remember… 
Remember the Angels' feast, 
Remember Heaven's harmony 
And the joy of the sublime hosts 
When a sinner raises his eyes to you. 
Ah! I want to increase that great joy. 
Jesus, I want to pray unceasingly for sinners. 
That I came to Carmel 
To fill your beautiful Heaven, 
Remember. 
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