The Guardian Angels 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Nehemiah 2: 1-8    (乃赫米雅)

In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Arta­xerxes, I was doing my duty as cup bearer.

I took up the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad be­fore the king in the past.  So, the king said to me, “Why do you look sad? You don’t look sick. Is there something that bothers you?”

I became hesitant.  And I said, “May the king live forever! How could I afford not to be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates are burned down?” The king said to me, “What do you want, then?”

I asked help of God from heaven and   said to the king, “If it seems good to the king and if he is pleased with my work, then may he send me to the land of Judah, to the city where my ancestors are buried, that I may rebuild it.”

The queen was sitting beside the king, and the king asked me, “How long will you be gone? When will you be back?” I told him the date and he allowed me to leave.  And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, may you give me letters for the governors of the province at the other side of the River that I may travel to Judah, and also a letter to Asaph, the caretaker of the king’s forest, for I will need wood for the gates of the Citadel near the Tem­ple, for the walls of the city and for the house where I shall live.”

The good hand of God was supporting me, so that the king gave me what I asked.

 

 Ps 137  Let  my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 18: 1-5, 10

 At that time the disciples came to Je­sus and asked him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

 Then Jesus called a little child, set the child in the midst of the disciples, and said, “I assure you that unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever becomes humble,like this child, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,  and whoever receives such a child in my name receives me.

 See that you do not despise any of these little ones, for I tell you: their angels in heaven continually see the face of my heavenly Father.

 

 

Reflection gospel：

“WHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?”

I have experienced many times being rescued from imminent dangers by no one. And when I tell people about them, their easy remark is that it was my guardian angel at work.Each of us has a guardian angel. Psalm 91:11 states “For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.”

Although in today’s gospel Jesus speaks only of children who have them, it doesn’t mean that once a child becomes an adult his or her angel leaves with task accomplished. Our guardian angel is our lifetime companion. CCC336admits that “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.”

Having a guardian angel speaks of God’s caring presence in our life; he does not will that we are totally left on our own. Be it to rescue us from figuring in accidents, or to assist us in difficult times, or to simply protect us in any way. Each of us has a special place in God’s heart. And for this we must be truly grateful.