Gospel Reflection for The 2nd day of October in the year of Our Lord, 2025
Memorial of the Guardian Angels
Matthew 18:1-5, 10
1 At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who thinkest thou is the greater in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them, 3 And said: Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me.
10 See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
It really is remarkable how few Protestants either notice or understand this passage. Jesus Christ, God Himself, the living Word of God states plainly that each person who is created by God is assigned an angel. The job of the Guardian Angel is to watch over that person and to advocate for them before God. Catholic tradition, based on this teaching of Christ, is that our Guardian Angels will protect us, keep us from sin, enlighten our minds and stir our souls to religious devotion if we but ask. Just as faith in God is necessary for our salvation, we must ask for the assistance of our Guardian Angels because God and His angels will not violate our free will.
It is truly sad that so many people die never having asked the help or having established a relationship with their Guardian Angel, simply because Protestant Doctrine states that prayers may only be directed toward God. The heart of this heretical teaching is misunderstanding the meaning of the word, “prayer”. Prayer comes from the Latin word meaning “to ask”. When you ask a person for a glass of water, you are literally praying to that person for their assistance. When you ask a family member or friend to pray for you, you are praying to them to pray for you. Prayer is not worship. Prayer is not adoration. Prayer is simply communication.
Our Lord said that there would be many who called themselves Christians and who believed that they had worshiped Him in good faith. But He would say, “Truly, I do not know you.” Unfortunately, there are millions of people who will meet their Guardian angels when they die, and be met with the same words. “I wanted to help you, I loved you from the moment you were conceived, my entire role was to help you spend eternity in Heaven. But, I do not know you because you never spoke to me.”
Judson Carroll is the author of several books, including his newest, A Daily Catholic Devotional, Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings July-December, 2025 It is Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5BHFZ7X
and
Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith. It is also Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK
His podcast is The Uncensored Catholic https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-uncensored-catholic