Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
“Children should be seen but not heard” is a well-known proverb. Historians trace its usage to sometime in Fifteenth-century England. We can guess that some adult coined the phrase when some kids were raising a racket and were having way too much fun in the wrong place. Apart from the challenge of dealing with children’s normal behavior, we can ask if children actually do play a special role in God’s plan of universal salvation. Perhaps today’s feast day of the Guardian Angels points in that direction.
Although children and widows had no legal rights in ancient societies, Old Testament writers (1 Sm 3; and Is 1:17) gave honorable mention to children. Even more so, Jesus in today’s gospel focused on the value of children. It must have been shocking for Jesus to call attention to those children running in and out of the crowd as kids do. Then Jesus made the solemn pronouncement that unless you become as children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. What did He mean?
The adult challenge is to imitate a child’s trust and humility. It’s all about responding to God the Father’s consistent and all-embracing love. We cannot change our age, which embraces our life story of learning experiences. A child, however, can naturally teach us to be open and enthusiastic with a spontaneous hope for all the good things yet to come.
Contrary to the dark and fearful mood of the present time, will it will be the young at heart who can bring us new hope and a new vision? May the Lord continue to send us guardian angels to protect us and innocent children to lead us home.
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections