An Angel’s Role

19 March 2010

Today’s Readings: 2 Sm 7:4-5.12-14.6/Mt116-18.21

REFLECTION
Angels are believed to be emissaries sent by Yahweh to speak or work wonders in his name.

The New Testament angel does not differ very much from the Old Testament’s messenger of Yahweh. The angel of the Lord appears to Zechariah to announce that his wife Elizabeth will bear a son. The angel Gabriel is sent to Mary to tell her that she has found favor with the Lord.

Today’s Gospel presents to us the mystery of Jesus’ birth through the appearance and announcement of an angel to Joseph in a dream. The angel reveals knowledge of Joseph’s thoughts and of the child’s conception and his role in the history of salvation.

An angel is God’s messenger news. Missionaries who bring God’s word to far-flung places may be said to play an angel’s role. In what way can we be an angel to people we meet each day?

PRAYER
Loving Father, let us be always conscious of the presence of our guardian angel whom you sent to guide and watch over us that we may not go astray. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.