20261002 MY NAME IS IN HIM
02 October 2026, Friday, The Holy Guardian Angels
First reading | Exodus 23:20-23 |
I myself will send an angel before you
The Lord says this: ‘I myself will send an angel before you to guard you as you go and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Give him reverence and listen to all that he says. Offer him no defiance; he would not pardon such a fault, for my name is in him. If you listen carefully to his voice and do all that I say, I shall be enemy to your enemies, foe to your foes. My angel will go before you.’
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 90(91):1-6,10-11 |
The Lord has commanded his angels to keep you in all your ways.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
and abides in the shade of the Almighty
says to the Lord: ‘My refuge,
my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!’
The Lord has commanded his angels to keep you in all your ways.
It is he who will free you from the snare
of the fowler who seeks to destroy you;
he will conceal you with his pinions
and under his wings you will find refuge.
The Lord has commanded his angels to keep you in all your ways.
You will not fear the terror of the night
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the plague that prowls in the darkness
nor the scourge that lays waste at noon.
The Lord has commanded his angels to keep you in all your ways.
Upon you no evil shall fall,
no plague approach where you dwell.
For you has he commanded his angels,
to keep you in all your ways.
The Lord has commanded his angels to keep you in all your ways.
Gospel Acclamation | Ps102:21 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give thanks to the Lord, all his hosts,
his servants who do his will.
Alleluia!
Gospel |
Matthew 18:1-5,10 |
Anyone who welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me
The disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said, ‘I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven.’
MY NAME IS IN HIM
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [EXODUS 23:20-23; MATTHEW 18:1-5,10]
Today, we celebrate the memorial of the Guardian Angels. Everyone likes the idea of someone–especially a spiritual being–watching over us. Even people who do not believe in God quietly wish that spiritual beings were watching over them. In celebrating this memorial in honour of the Guardian Angels, the Church wants to assure us that God is indeed watching over us through His angels.
This is what the Lord said to Moses and the people of Israel: “I myself will send an angel before you to guard you as you go and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.” Angels are sent by God to guide and guard us on our way. This is why we pray to the Guardian Angels: “Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guide, to rule and guard.”
But why should we believe in angels? Who are they? Are they pure spiritual beings, or are they human beings? Do they have wings on their bodies? How is it that we do not see angels today if they exist? How come angels seem to be present only in the Old Testament, in the life and ministry of Jesus, and in the early Church? Today, we hardly hear stories of people encountering angels helping them. What happened to the angels? For those of us who demand proof, we might even conclude that angels are merely mythological figures used to explain divine intervention in the lives of the People of God.
Yet, Scripture makes it clear that God is distinct from the angels. He said, “My angel will go before you.” Angels, therefore, are so closely associated with God that they are identified with Him. Indeed, in the first reading, God said, “Give him reverence and listen to all that he says. Offer him no defiance; he would not pardon such a fault, for my name is in him.” The angels’ close identity with God is seen in their power to forgive sins. We remember how the scribes were scandalised when Jesus forgave the sins of the paralytic, asking, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mk 2:7). Indeed, angels bear the very name of God. God’s name is more than just a title; it indicates His special presence and refers to His divine identity. Angels makes known to us the attributes and character of God. For this reason, angels can command complete obedience and trust, because their presence is tantamount to the presence of God Himself.
So while angels are distinct from God, they simultaneously bear divine attributes within them. So much so, some scholars think that the appearance of the angel at the Burning Bush–and many other appearances in the Pentateuch, such as to Jacob and Gideon–points us to Christ, who sends us the Holy Spirit. Like the angels, Jesus is our guide and the presence of God in our lives. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn 14:6). Like Israel’s angel, Jesus reveals God to us. He is the Divine Revelation and the messenger of the Good News. Refusing to listen to Him will cause us to lose our salvation. Jesus said: “The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Anyone who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him. Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life.” (Jn 5:22-24)
From this, it is clear that while angels bear divine attributes, they remain distinct from God. Angels could very well be purely spiritual beings, for we know that God created both visible and invisible beings. They remain creatures of God. They are like us–possessing a mind, will, and emotions–but without a physical body. They are intelligent beings. Just like us, they function as God’s messengers, bringing His word along with His consolation and admonition to His people. They are there to guide and guard us. Therefore, we should listen to them as the Scriptures command us–not because they are divine beings, but because they are God’s representatives and convey His divine presence.
This is why we must obey the angels: “If you listen carefully to his voice and do all that I say, I shall be an enemy to your enemies, a foe to your foes.” Why should we listen to the angels that God sends to us? Simply because angels embody the divine presence of God in our lives. As the first reading says, “My name is in him.” This means whatever an angel says or does, he does in the name of God. God uses him and works through him to guide and protect us so that we can be saved from our enemies. This explains why today’s First Reading reveals two great truths to us: the accompanying angel, and the angel as God’s terror against His enemies: “I will send my terror in front of you, and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.” (cf. Ex 23:27)
In the fullest sense, Jesus is the real angel in our lives. He is the Word of God in person. He is the one who continues to lead us to the Promised Land, just like the angel who guided the Israelites. Jesus continues to be with us through the Holy Spirit, who represents the ultimate indwelling presence of God with His people. Before He ascended, Jesus promised, “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Mt 28:20). As He told His disciples before His passion: “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf.” (Jn 15:26)
By extension, these angelic figures need not necessarily be spiritual beings alone; they can be anyone who acts as God’s messenger and intermediary in passing on His word, protecting, and guiding His people. Thus, the angels today could be your friend, your priest, your bishop, or your parents. Anyone who guides you along the right path and protects you from harm is your guardian angel. The Lord said to Moses and the people, “My angel will go before you and lead you to where the Amorites are and the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, the Jebusites; I shall exterminate these.” Indeed, the emphasis on God’s abiding presence with His people is made clear by the fact that the angel goes ahead of the Israelites. The main point is that God goes before His people, not merely beside them. God does not move when Israel moves; rather, Israel moves when God moves. So for those of us who are God’s messengers, we too must lead the people under our care to the fullness of life by being God’s voice and presence, guiding them along the way.
We are reminded of our responsibility to those entrusted to our care–whether children, adults, or the elderly. A child is someone who needs our guidance and care. The Lord said: “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven.” Every person is important to us, and we must never forget that we are God’s presence to others in both word and deed. Shining forth the light of Christ, along with His love and mercy, is our primary duty as Christians.
On the part of those welcoming the angels of God, we need humility, receptivity, and docility. To listen to the Lord, we must be childlike in our relationship with Him. In the Gospel, Jesus called a little child to Him, set the child in front of the disciples, and said: “I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Unless we are humble, we will not be able to see the angels in others. The truth is not that God has stopped sending His angels to help us, but that many of us–because of our pride and disbelief–cannot see beyond ourselves and our problems.
So let us join the angels in heaven, singing and praising God every day of our lives. Let us be intermediaries for those who need our prayers. Like the angels, let us intercede for those waiting for their petitions to be answered. Like the angels, we must also continue to act as His messengers in declaring God’s will and word to those under our care. As angels, let us protect and guard our children especially, as well as all who are vulnerable to evil influences and abuse. Indeed, we must seek to protect them from harm and evil. In this way, we truly bring God’s presence to others, just as the angels do.
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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