Companions on the Mission: Trusting Our Guardian Angels

Neh 8:1-4a.5-6.7b-12, Psalm: 18, Lk 10:1-12

Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

On this beautiful Memorial of our Holy Guardian Angels, the Church invites us to ponder a truth of breathtaking comfort: we are never alone. God, in His loving providence, has assigned to each of us a celestial companion, a guardian spirit, to guide and protect us on our pilgrimage to our heavenly homeland. Today’s readings, which speak of the power of God’s Word and the urgency of His mission, are illumined by this consoling doctrine.

In the first reading, we witness a profound moment of renewal. The people of Israel, returned from exile, gather as one to hear the Law of God read by Ezra the scribe. As the Word is proclaimed, they weep, cut to the heart by its truth. But Nehemiah and Ezra tell them, “Do not be sad, and do not weep… for today is holy to our LORD. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!” The Word of God, even when it convicts us, is never meant to crush us, but to convert and console us. It is a guide for our path, a light for our steps (Ps 119:105).

This scene beautifully reflects the role of our Guardian Angel. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. ‘Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life’” (CCC 336). Like Ezra presenting the Law, our angel is constantly guiding us toward the truth of God’s Word, helping our hearts to hear His voice and turning our sorrow into the joy of repentance.

This divine guidance finds its purpose in mission, as we see in the Gospel. The Lord Jesus sends out the seventy-two disciples “like lambs among wolves.” He gives them authority but instructs them to travel lightly—no money bag, no sack, no sandals. They must depend entirely on the providence of God and the hospitality of those they meet. Their mission is one of radical trust.

In this, we see another facet of our angel’s care. They are not merely personal comforters; they are missionary companions. Just as the disciples were sent two-by-two for mutual support, we are accompanied by a heavenly partner on our mission to proclaim the Kingdom of God. In the midst of a world that can often feel hostile to the Gospel—a world of “wolves”—our Guardian Angel strengthens us, protects us from spiritual harm, and inspires us to speak words of peace. As the Psalmist proclaims, “For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go” (Ps 91:11).

What does this mean for us today? It means we can face our daily tasks with renewed confidence.

• In hearing God’s Word: When we read Scripture or listen to the homily, we can ask our Guardian Angel to open our hearts to receive not condemnation, but the joyful strength that God intends.
• In our vulnerability: When we feel like “lambs among wolves” in our family, workplace, or society, we can call upon our angel for the courage to be a peaceful, faithful presence, trusting that God provides for our needs.
• In our mission: Every act of charity, every word of witness, every patient endurance of suffering is part of our mission. We do not undertake it alone. Our angel is there to guide our steps and present our efforts to the Father.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux, in a famous sermon, urged: “Be devout in your devotion to them… Let us therefore love God’s angels with a true affection; they will be our co-heirs in the future, for now they are our guardians and trustees appointed by the Father.”

So, let us go forth today with a joyful heart, like the Israelites who feasted after hearing the Law. Let us embark on our mission with the trust of the seventy-two. And let us do so with a grateful awareness of our faithful, heavenly companion, our Holy Guardian Angel, who guides, guards, and leads us ever closer to the God who is our eternal joy.

Amen.