Daily Readings for October 2, 2018

Memorial of the Guardian Angels

1st READING

We need guardian angels to protect us from evil. The Lord recognized that His people, as they travelled in the desert to the Promised Land, needed protection from their enemies. He sent an angel to go before them. This is what our guardian angels do — they go before us in order to shield us from the attacks of the evil one. Let us pray for the grace to avoid temptation, and walk in the path of truth and righteousness.

Exodus 23:20-23 (or Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23)

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 88:2-3, 4-5, 6, 7-8)

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 

Little children trust in their guardian angels. They innately trust their parents and those who they believe have their best interests at heart. Like children, let us also believe and trust in the angels that God sends to protect and guide us in our earthly pilgrimage. Let us humbly accept that we need His help and protection.

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.”