FIRST READING: “See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and heed his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority resides in him. If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. “My angel will go before you and bring you to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites; and I will wipe them out. - Exodus 23:20-23

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Say to the LORD, “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.”
God will rescue you from the fowler’s snare, from the destroying plague,
Will shelter you with pinions, spread wings that you may take refuge; God’s faithfulness is a protecting shield.
You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day,
Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness, nor the plague that ravages at noon.
No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent.
For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways. - Psalm 91:1-11

HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO SAINT MATTHEW

At that time 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. - Matthew 18:1-5.10

REFLECTION

“They will bear you in their hands”
by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153)
Cistercian monk, Doctor of the Church

For he has commanded his angels to keep you in all your ways» (Ps 91[90],11). How greatly should these words draw you to respect… the presence of your good angel! What great confidence they ought to inspire in you since it is God who is taking care of you. Pay great attention to all you do since the angels are present to all your affairs as God has commanded them. Wherever you go, in whatever nook or cranny you may find yourself, always show great devotion to your good angel… Do you question whether this unseen spirit is present to all you do? What great respect you would show if you understood, touched and felt him beside you!

Take good note that it isn’t only by seeing that we become convinced that something is present; not all present, corporeal things can be grasped by sight. How much more, then, are spiritual things outside the grasp of our senses and cannot be sought or found except by spiritual means? So if you examine your faith, doesn’t it assure you that your good angel is always with you? Yes indeed, faith gives you its proof because, according to the apostle, faith grants proof and conviction of realities we do not see (Heb 11,1). Be assured, then, that our good angels are always there, no just with us but on our side. They are close to us to protect and serve us.

How will you make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for you? (cf. Ps 116[115],12). To him alone be all honor and glory because it is he who commanded his angels to keep us in all our ways; it is he who has given them to us. No perfect gift can come to us but from him (Jas 1,17).