The Feast Of The Guardian Angels
The Twin Towers of New York came crashing down on September 11,2001. For many, they were the symbols of power and security on the face of the earth raised up by the genius of man. They were shattered by human cruelty, which, as President Bush rightly called, is “the very worst of human nature.” Together with them, what has vanished in the rolling ball of fire and the swaying columns of smoke, are the human concepts of surety and security.
Is there anything sure any more? Is there security anywhere at all?
Trying hard to understand the why of it all, human reason returns from this millennial evil with an ineffable grief. While the burnt face of modern civilization causes perverted jubilation in certain fanatical minds, cries of vengeance are heard as a response to the brutal assaults of visceral hatred. Once again, man is faced with the question: what is right and what is wrong? Is there any light of truth coming from beyond the thick layers of smoke in the sky?
A moment of prayer will reveal to us that the first paradise that God created with great love and, caring for the happiness of man, was also destroyed. The power behind it was the audacious evil of man in the primitive form of the treacherous snake. This prehistoric audacity has become innovative in this jet age, taking the form of four hijacked jetliners- turned deadly weapons – literally airborne bombs – ramming into the skyliners to create a towering inferno. Is this all-destructive power invincible?
The answer lies in the Feast of Guardian Angels, which we celebrate on 2nd October every year.
The Word of God together with the tradition of the Church reveals to us that evil is the defeated enemy of humanity. It is designated by the name “devil,” which in its original Greek (diaballein) means, “to cause destruction, to divide, to deceive, to calumniate.” The Bible calls it “the prince of the world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) and even “the god of this world.” (2 Corinthians 4:4) We find many other names as “Beelzebul,” “unclean spirit,” “tempter,” “evil one” and even “antichrist.” (1 John 4:3) He has begun his destructive work in humanity from the beginning.
In the book of Genesis, we read how satan succeeded to communicate to man an attitude of antagonism against God to lead him to sin. (Genesis 3:5) Satan tried to induce rebellion in Job in the moments of his intense suffering (Job 1:11; 2:5-7) Rebellion against God and destruction of humanity are what satan is always about. Hence the warning of St. Peter, “Your adversary the devl i0 prowls around, as a roaring lion goes about seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Jesus calls him the cosmic “liar and father of lies.” (John 8:44) He goes about imposing his radical and irreversible denial of God on human beings. However, he is able to influence the free decision of man against God only if man gives consent to him.
“I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” (Luke 10:18) Satan, however, is a defeated enemy. He was defeated by the Angels of God and thrown down to eternal hell. They rebelled against God in the fundamental test of their liberty. The Fourth Lateran Council teaches that satan and other demons “were created good by God but have become evil by their own will.” This teaching of the Church is based on the Word of God, “…the angels who did not keep their own dignity, but left their own dwelling, are kept by the Lord in eternal chains in the darkness, for the judgment of the great day.” (Jude 6) Similarly St. Peter speaks of the angels who have sinned whom God “did not spare, but…cast in gloomy abysses of hell, reserving them for the judgment.” (2 Peter 2:4) The rebellious choice against God keeps the fallen angels in their eternal chains.
This defeat of satan was completed by the redemptive act of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Hence the assurance of Jesus to everyone, “Do not be afraid of him; I have conquered him.” All those who believe in Jesus are invited to live a life of victory won by him. The Bible teaches us that God has appointed His angels, who were victors over demons, to help us in our life of struggle against evil.
The angels, more than any other creation, reflect the majesty and holiness of God. In them we see His power, beauty and glory. They are united with God by a perfect commitment of love. They are constantly in the presence of God, as Jesus said, “The angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10) In the glory of this beatific vision, these purely spiritual beings constantly worship God, which is the “heavenly liturgy.” In the preface of the fourth Eucharistic prayer we read, “Countless hosts of angels stand before You to do Your will. They look upon your splendour and praise you night and day. United with them and in the name of every creature under heaven, we too praise Your glory.”
Sacred Scripture refers to the angels by using proper names such as Raphael, Gabriel and Michael. Collective titles are also given to them such as Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Powers, Dominions and Principalities.
The angels, who participate in the holiness and majesty of the Holy Trinity, play a great role in the history of the salvation of man, in the moments determined by Divine Providence. They all have loving solicitude for the protection and salvation of the children of God. Hence the assertion of the letter to the Hebrews, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14) In fact, the very word ‘angel’ suggests their role in the salvation of man.
The Hebrew word for angel is “malak” which is translated as “messenger.” The angels are divine messengers to bring God’s Word to men and women. (Genesis 22:11; Judges 13:3-5; 2 Kings 1:3, 15; Luke 1:26) The angels are also sent to protect the people of God. (2 Kings 19:35; Isaiah 37:36) The angels are also commissioned by God to earth to guard and protect His children. (Daniel 3:28; Psalm 91:11-12; Matthew 18:10-11)
The Feast is a solemn reminder to us how God cares for every one of us. For God, we are not a mere ocean of humanity – a faceless and nameless collection of individuals, being born, struggling for livelihood for a certain duration of time, and dying, just like the vanishing bubbles in the water. Every one of us is precious to Him. He knows us by name and holds us close to His heart. “I have called you by name, you are mine…you are precious in my eyes, and honoured, and I love you.” (Isaiah 43:1,4) He cares for every single detail of our lives. Jesus assures us, “Even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matthew 10:30)
Hence the confidence of the Psalmist in this love and care of God. “Thou hast kept count of my afflictions; put Thou my tears in Thy bottle! Are they not in Thy book?” (Psalm 56:8) This personal loving care of God is manifested in the command He has given to His angels. “For to His angels, He has given command about you, that they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91:11-12)
Every man is so dear to God that hosts of angels are ready to go into action to guard and protect him. Therefore, even a little infant may not be looked down upon. Jesus said, “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.” (Matthew 18:10-11)
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1) “Fear not!” is a phrase that occurs 165 times in the Bible. God repeats it so often to assure us that the evil power, however much destruction it can cause, will not achieve final victory. The dastardly act of the destruction of the twin towers is a telling reminder to all how disastrous it would be when a few individuals allow themselves to be possessed and led by the power of evil. Mankind, perhaps, has not yet realized sufficiently the enormity of this destructive power. Hence the warning of Jesus that no one should allow even a bit or a drop or a moment of evil. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.” (Matthew 5:27-30)
The Feast of the Guardian Angels exhorts us to keep away from sin altogether, and in the guidance and protection of the angels, take the side of God to do good to our brothers and sisters at all times. All the good that we do here will be brought to completion at the final coming of Jesus Christ to establish “a new heaven and a new earth.” (Revelation 21:1) St. John sees it in a vision: “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them; He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death shall be no more; mourning and crying and pain shall be no more, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)
Such angelic faces were indeed seen at the scene of the disaster in New York City. With superhuman strength and courage, they were going about serving the suffering people in the midst of the debris of the twin towers. Some of them even sacrificed their lives in the angelic act of saving their brethren. Among them was Rev. Fr. Michael Judge who was chaplain of the Fire Brigade of New York City.
Eyewitnesses testify that members of the fire brigade, medical personnel and a host of volunteers worked endless hours, showing no signs of fatigue. Long lines of people were seen outside the hospitals waiting in the sun to donate blood. Everyone around the world wanted to do something to save. The goodness in man showed up in a superhuman way. The whole world was united, heart and mind, all ready to save.
One thing is for sure – satan will not get the upper hand. This disaster, however dastardly it has been, is only a little success. We believe in angels – the powers of goodness and holiness, love and peace. They are with us, protecting and guarding us, waiting for the day of ultimate victory to usher in “the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds.” (Matthew 24:30-31)
Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.
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