DAILY READINGS & REFLECTION

OCTOBER 2, 2024

WEDNESDAY - MEMORIAL OF THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS

FIRST READING

JOB 9:1-12, 14-16 OR (EXODUS 23:20-23)

1 Then Job answered: 2 "Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be just before God? 3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times. 4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded? 5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger; 6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; 7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars; 8 who alone stretched out the heavens, and trampled the waves of the sea; 9 who made the Bear and Orion, the Plei'ades and the chambers of the south; 10 who does great things beyond understanding, and marvelous things without number. 11 Lo, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him. 12 Behold, he snatches away; who can hinder him? Who will say to him, `What doest thou'? 14 How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him? 15 Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser. 16 If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.

The Word of the Lord
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

PSALMS 87(88):10-15 OR (PSALMS 91:1-6, 10-11)

Response: Let my prayer come before thee, O Lord.

My eye grows dim through sorrow.
Every day I call upon thee, O LORD;
I spread out my hands to thee.
Dost thou work wonders for the dead?
Do the shades rise up to praise thee?

R. Let my prayer come before thee, O Lord.

Is thy steadfast love declared in the grave,
or thy faithfulness in Abaddon?
Are thy wonders known in the darkness,
or thy saving help in the land of forgetfulness?

R. Let my prayer come before thee, O Lord.

But I, O LORD, cry to thee;
in the morning my prayer comes before thee.
O LORD, why dost thou cast me off?
Why dost thou hide thy face from me?

R. Let my prayer come before thee, O Lord.
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GOSPEL

Their angels behold the Father in heaven

MATTHEW 18:1-5, 10 OR (LUKE 9:57-62)

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; 10 See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven."

The Gospel of the Lord
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REFLECTION

DAILY QUOTE FROM THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS

Their angels behold the face of my Father in heaven, by Chromatius (died 406 AD)

"It is not right to despise anyone who believes in Christ. A believer is called not only a servant of God but also a son through the grace of adoption, to whom the kingdom of heaven and the company of the angels is promised. And rightly the Lord adds, 'For I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.' How much grace the Lord has toward each one believing in him he himself declares when he shows their angels always beholding the face of the Father who is in heaven. Great is the grace of the angels toward all who believe in Christ. Finally, the angels carry their prayers to heaven. Hence the word of Raphael to Tobias: 'When you prayed along with your daughter-in-law Sara, I offered the memory of your prayer in the sight of God (Deutero-canonical book of Tobit 12:12). Around them there is also the strong guard of the angels; they help each of us to be free from the traps of the enemy. For a human in his weakness could not be safe amid so many forceful attacks of that enemy if he were not strengthened by the help of the angels."

(excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 57.1)
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Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.