FIRST READING
“For he who brought these calamities upon you will bring you joy.”
A reading from the Book of Baruch (Baruch 4:5-12.27-29)
Take courage, my people, O memorial of Israel! It was not for destruction that you were sold to the nations, but you were handed over to your enemies because you angered God. For you provoked him who made you, by sacrificing to demons and not to God. You forgot the everlasting God, who brought you up, and you grieved Jerusalem, who reared you. For she saw the wrath that came upon you from God, and she said: “Listen, you neighbours of Zion, God has brought great sorrow upon me; for I have seen the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting brought upon them. With joy I nurtured them, but I sent them away with weeping and sorrow. Let no one rejoice over me, a widow and bereaved of many; I was left desolate because of the sins of my children, because they turned away from the law of God. “Take courage, my children, and cry to God, for you will be remembered by him who brought this upon you. For just as you planned to go astray from God, return with tenfold zeal to seek him. For he who brought these calamities upon you will bring you everlasting joy with your salvation.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 69:33-35.36-37 (R. 34a)
R. The Lord listens to the needy.
The poor when they see it will be glad,
and God-seeking hearts will revive;
for the Lord listens to the needy,
and does not spurn his own in their chains.
Let the heavens and the earth give him praise,
the seas and everything that moves in them. R.
For God will bring salvation to Sion,
and rebuild the cities of Judah,
and they shall dwell there in possession.
The children of his servants shall inherit it;
those who love his name shall dwell there. R.
ALLELUIA Matthew 11:25
Alleluia. Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 18:1-5, 10)
At that the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put in the midst of them, and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. “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.
Today’s Reflection
Angels are messengers bringing us good tidings. They guard us, guide us and help us in our daily life. Psalm 91:11 says, “He will give his angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways.” Today is a day to think about and thank our guardian angels, our spiritual companions, for all that they do for us, and for us to reflect on how conscious we are of their presence. Some saints could speak with their guardian angels and even see them, but most of us do not have such gifts. However, the first reading calls us to revere the angels and listen to them by doing the things that please God, whom the angels serve.