2 Oct 2014 - faux greater glory

Readings for the Memorial of the Guardian Angels

Exodus 23:30-23, Psalm 91:1-6, 10-11, Matthew 18:1-5, 10

We tend to become smug when we hear the disciples say, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" We think that we're doing well, past immature faith like that. But when we think that way we might be skipping a step. Think about the question. It implies that the disciples know that greatness in the kingdom is different from greatness in the world. It implies that they have some understanding of the centrality of mission. They want kingdom greatness not the greatness of the world. May the LORD give all of us such desire. May we all want to be great in the kingdom and for the kingdom. May we desire to be bold and to risk greatness for the sake of our LORD.

Yet we do need a paradigm shift. The disciples are still thinking of a concept of worldly greatness and transposing that to the kingdom. And we do the same. We think in terms of size, number, power, and fame. Jesus has the antidote.

Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

We must become like children.  If we don't we will not only fail to achieve kingdom greatness we won't even make it through the gates. To be like children means to become small and trusting. It means to give up imagined self-sufficiency and to trust in Jesus. Our weakness no longer frightens us. The strength of him who is in the world no longer frightens us. The one who is in us is stronger. His love, his humility, and his childlike trust in the Father allow him to be delivered from the worst the world can throw at him. In him is our hope.

He protects us with his angels. If we were in charge of their deployment we probably wouldn't bother assigning strong and wise angels to each weak and sinful human. We would imagine some more strategic use for our resources than that. But God doesn't love us because we are strong or useful. He doesn't bless us because we deserve it. He has a plan for each of us from the moment he forms us in the womb. And that plan is so important to him that he gives an angel charge over us to guard us in all of our ways.

I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.

We can take advantage of this grace even more if we are conscious of it and open to it.

Give heed to him and hearken to his voice, do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression; for my name is in him. But if you hearken attentively to his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.

There is a lot of grace to be had here. Let us become like children, like Therese of Lisieux teaches. Then we will know the tender care that God pours out through on us through our guardian angels. We ourselves stop looking for greatness as the world defines it. We become open to receive the other little ones in the world in the name of Jesus. The closer we come to God the more simple we become. Our angels help us when this transformation seems impossible. When the world's strength seems insurmountable they give us hope. The behold the face of the Father. They want to share that vision with us.