Daily Readings for October 2, 2017

Memorial of the Guardian Angel

1ST READING

The word “angel” means messenger of God. This is how we experience them in the Scriptures. They bring God’s Word to His people. We do not exactly know what they are as heavenly beings, except that they are spiritual in nature. Let us be open to the fact that God could use angels to communicate with us, if He so desired.

Exodus 23:20-23 (or Zechariah 8:1-8)

20 Thus says the Lord: “See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. 21 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. 22 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. 23 “My angel will go before you and bring you to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites; and I will wipe them out.”

P S A L M

Psalm 91:1-2, 3-4, 4-6, 10-11 (or Psalm 102:16-18, 19-21, 29, 22-23)

R: The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.

1 You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (R) 3 For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler, from the destroying pestilence. 4 With his pinions he will cover you, and under his wings you shall take refuge. (R) His faithfulness is a buckler and a shield. 5 You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day; 6 nor the pestilence that roams in darkness nor the devastating plague at noon. (R) 10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall affliction come near your tent, 11 for to his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. (R)

GOSPEL

To be like a child does not mean we should be childish. There is a big difference between the two. Jesus wants us to be like a child and trust that God  always desires the best for us. This means we will always defer to and trust in His will for us when we make plans. We take the responsibility to act based on what we discern as His will. A childish person, on the other hand, never takes responsibility for his actions, always blaming others for his faults and failures.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Bless the Lord, all you angels, you ministers, who do his will.

Matthew 18:1-5, 10 (or Luke 9:46-50)

1 The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child over, placed it in their midst, 3 and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. 10 “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.”