"Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place which I have prepared.
There are deeper truths than the ones which our eyes can see. If we could see spiritual things we would behold beings of light with immense strength standing close and guarding us (not to mention the powers of darkness which they keep at bay). This is what the Church teaches when she tells us that every person has a guardian angel:
for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
If we could see them with our eyes we would not fail to be devoted to them and to love them. Their care for us is steadfast and comprehensive.
no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways.
With so great a blessing we are called to respond. We read that we must give "heed to him and hearken to his voice" and to "not rebel against him." This really seems like very little to ask for the privilege of being guarded by supernatural beings. Yet we do rebel against our angels. They try to guide us on the path which God intends for us. We are often heedless of this guidance. We go our own way. We even sin, always in spite of the protests of our guardian angel and their offer of strength and assistance.
We forget that God has prepared a place to which his is guiding us. When we forget this we quickly cease to value the guides and protectors he offers us for this journey. Yet if we remember that we are on a journey and rely on the protection which God provides we can experience his unshakable peace and courage. If we forget this we quickly perish in the desert of sin for we are surrounded by danger on every side.
You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
Let us be humble like little children, ready to accept all the help our Father provides.
Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
It is misplaced pride which tries to compel us to make this journey on our own strength. The terrain is beyond us. But God's care is close at hand.
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