Angels watching over Us (10/14/2024)

Yesterday, our beloved house guest, Martha, had to return home. Our visit with her had come to an end. She and I went to Mass, then she came home, packed up her belongings, gave me a hug, and she and my husband headed to the rendezvous point with her ride, Lynn. After she left, I went to the guest room to tidy and pick up the laundry. And on the bedside commode sat a beautiful silver angel. She’d left it behind for me as a reminder.

One of my favorite “learnings” as a child was about the angels I was guaranteed watch over me. As I grew, I found the passages in the bible that tell me just that.  I read about the angels that protected Lot, that saved Hagar and Ishmael, that stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, that went ahead of the people on the exodus journey, that announced the births of special individuals, and that freed the apostles from prison. And I remember the time that Jesus spoke of the angels that protect us, “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” (Mt 18:10).

It's comforting to know that the LORD is present to me always and that the LORD has sent His angels to surround me and guard me.  On my desk sits a plaque from my niece and goddaughter, Amy. It reads, “God is watching over you. I know because I asked Him to.” And it always makes me smile when I look up and see it. It assures me of love from family, friends, and from the LORD. And I marvel at the world the LORD has created and the web within it that not only guards us but unites us. It is called love.

When my children and grandchildren have asked about angels, I have assured them that they are real. I have explained that we will not see them but that the greatest and most valuable and essential realities in our lives are not visible, beginning with love. We have to have faith. We have to allow the promise of our LORD to buoy us with hope. And we have to open ourselves to love well and love always. It is only through the prism of love that we can see and sense the essential but invisible.

As we journey through this day, striving to keep the faith, hoping to live up to our potential as daughters and sons of the Father Almighty, disciples of Jesus Christ, and temple of the Spirit here in this world, let us walk with confidence knowing that the LORD is with us always and sometimes it is through the heavenly angels and sometimes it is through a blessed and cooperative disciple who walks beside us.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.