Glory Through Humility
Gospel Reflection for October 2nd, 2024--- Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
Today is the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels and the Gospel reading for today brings two very important truths to light:
The first is that humility is the way by which we arrive at glory;
The second is that humans are given angel guardians for their good.
Christ tells us in today’s Gospel:
“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 18:4
According to the Lord, it is the virtue of humility that brings one into the Kingdom of Heaven, and not just into it, but raises one into the heights of the Kingdom. This response should shake the world to its foundation. The Apostles are asking Christ how one becomes greatest in heaven, no doubt they are attempting to figure this out for their own glory. But this glory is a worldly glory, one that is measured in power and prestige. Christ’s correction is swift and severe. He exhorts them not to vainglory but to humility.
Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange comments that humility
“is born of them at the realization of the distance separating the infinite perfection of God from the nothingness of creatures.”1
Garrigou teaches in the tradition of St. Thomas that humility comes from an understanding and realization that there is an infinite distance between man and God, especially with regard to our goodness and perfection. This is exactly the lesson that Christ is teaching His apostles. Man cannot attain glory of his own work. In fact, man can do nothing without Christ.2 Until we reflect on our own nothingness and absolute dependency on God, we will not inherit the kingdom of God. Garrigou comes to the conclusion:
“Anyone who already possesses this virtue in a high degree, who is happy to recognize his nothingness and abjection before God, who loves to be nothing so that God may be all, to humble himself before what is divine in every other soul, is prepared for the grace of contemplation.”3
Humility is the foundation or contemplation which leads to glory.
Today’s Gospel ends with a short mention of the angels:
“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” Matthew 18:10.
Here, we can see Our Lord confirming that we are given angels. This is a beautiful tradition in the Catholic Church. Each human is given an angel guardian who protects them throughout this life and works for their salvation.
St. Thomas comments on this:
“For as Jerome says, there is an angel assigned to each man for his protection… These angels have the role of bringing and announcing divine things to us. Likewise, they carry our prayers to God and present them… Hence if the Lord provides for them so generously that He wills them to be served by angels, they are not to be despised.”4
This devotion is an important one for all people. Our angels are ever ready to assist us in our times of need. Just as St. Thomas tells us quoted above, our guardians are an act of generous love by God for our good. He desires our salvation and so He provides for us.
These guardian angels are numbered among those who did not fall upon their creation. Instead of falling into pride the way that Satan and his demons did, our guardians confirmed themselves in humility. On this memorial, let us ask our guardian angels to intercede for us for the grace of humility so that we might worship God side by side with them, in Glory.
Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, Christian Perfection and Contemplation, 390.
Cf. John 15:5.
Christian Perfection, 390.
St. Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, C. 18, L1. 1504.
Amen, beautifully said!
Excellent reflection Andrew. St. Francis imitated our Lord who chose poverty over riches and our Blessed Mother who lived a simple life of humility and poverty. The gift of humility is difficult to accept.