“Because He is Love in its essence, God appears before the angels … as a sun. And from that sun, heat and light go forth; the heat being Love and the light, Wisdom. And the angels [become] Love and Wisdom, not from themselves but from from the Lord.“
Emanuel Swedenborg, Angelic Wisdom
Today is the Catholic feast day of the Holy Guardian Angels. Angels are referenced throughout the Bible, and as a young child, I was taught that every individual soul has a guardian angel.
One description of the role angels play can be found in St. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews:
“But to which of the angels has He ever said: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool?’ Are they not all ministering spirits sent to serve, for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1: 13-14
Angels are all around us, waiting to lead us to Your love.
St. Augustine of Hippo also wrote poignantly about angels. He described in detail their existence “beyond the firmament” — or in other words, beyond the veil that separates the physical and spiritual worlds. Here’s an excerpt:
“Other waters [and beings] there are above this firmament, I believe, immortal and kept free from earthly corruption. Let them praise Your name. Let the supercelestial peoples, who are Your angels, praise You, they who have no need to look up at this firmament, or by reading to know Your Word. They always behold Your face, and, without any syllables of time, they read upon it what Your eternal will decrees. They read Your will; they choose it; and they love it. They read forever, and what they read never passes away. For, by choosing and loving, they read the actual immutability of Your counsel. Their book is never closed, nor is their scroll folded up, because You Yourself are this to them, and You are this for eternity. For You have set them in order above this firmament, which You have made firm above the infirmity of a lower race, where they might look upwards and know Your mercy, telling in time of You who made all times.”1
Angels are all around us, desiring to reveal all that You are.
It is beautiful to ponder, how all of this works together.
1The Confessions of Saint Augustine, translated by John K. Ryan (New York: Image Books, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company, 2014), pages 313-314.
Do you ever have weeks where you feel like you’ve taken two steps forward in faith and three steps backward? You wake up one morning and feel the voice of God so distinctly within your heart. You follow His gentle commands all day and fall asleep in peace that evening.
But then the next day you wake up worried about something you have no chance of controlling. You rush into the day, so caught up in this “thing” that you cannot stand still for even one minute, to wait for the Lord. Early in the afternoon, when you hear God whispering within your heart, you ignore Him because you think you’ve already found a solution and can go it alone.
Sound familiar? I spend a lot of weeks this way. And when I read the Book of Numbers in the Old Testament, I realize that I am not alone.
The Book of Numbers — and the first five books of the Old Testament overall — are a compelling read. The Book of Numbers starts with Moses taking a census of the people of Israel. Push through those initial chapters because the story soon picks back up with Israel’s journey to the Promised Land, following their escape from slavery in Egypt. With the help of God, Moses is leading the people through the desert and into the land of Canaan.
It’s a great story and a long journey — 40 years, to be precise. The Israelites experience highs and lows, as they struggle with learning to trust in God every day. It’s hard to imagine the spectacular displays of God’s power the Israelites witness as they make their journey. God physically parts the Red Sea, enabling their escape from the Egyptians who are pursuing them. (Exodus 14: 21-31) He appears to them in the form of a cloud each morning and a column of fire each evening. (Numbers 9: 15-23) Through Moses, God reveals the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 19 & 20)
And yet at times even Moses, God’s faithful and loving servant, stumbles and seems to lose his trust in God. How can this happen, when God is so close to Moses and His people?
God is equally near to us. Why are we afraid to believe what God promises?
The Book of Numbers reminds me that we are all wandering through our deserts of faith, on our way home to the Father. Our hearts and bodies are weak, which causes us to lose faith in God. We veer off course, which frustrates Him and us.
We know that God created us in His own image (Genesis 1: 26-27, 31), and we see His emotions on full display within the Book of Numbers, and frankly throughout the Bible. What I see most clearly through the Book of Numbers is the immense love and mercy of God, as He never tires in attempting to draw us back to Him.
I particularly treasure the story of the 70 elders (Numbers 11: 10-30). Moses is overwhelmed and exhausted with the responsibility of caring for this often difficult group of people. He cries out to God, asking for help. God instructs Moses to choose 70 men to become elders of the people; and He promises to fill these leaders with His Spirit so that they can help Moses to lead.
Moses does as he is told, but two of the men — one named Eldad and another named Medad — are not present in the tent with Moses and the others, when God’s Spirit descends upon them. Where were those two men, I wonder? What could they possibly have been doing that was more important than what was happening in that tent?!
And yet God still sends His Spirit to them, meeting Eldad and Medad where they are outside the tent. Amazingly, these men also begin to prophesy and lead. This causes a stir amond the other 68 elders who were inside the tent, but Moses quiets them by pointing out how much easier this journey would be if all of God’s people were prophets filled with the Spirit!
This brief story about Eldad and Medad is precious to me because it assures me of how much God loves us. Even when we are too busy to stop for Him, God comes looking for us, showering us with every goodness — and giving us another chance to be good, to do good, and to return to Him.
The Bible clearly shows us that there are repercussions for not listening to and following God’s commands for our lives. The decision to ignore God’s voice prevents us from experiencing His goodness right now, here on earth. Do we fully grasp this? Even Moses is ultimately denied entry into the Promised Land of Canaan because he disobeys God’s instruction for bringing water out of a rock. (Numbers 20: 1-13)
There are a series of moments in Moses’ life where his trust wavers, culminating in the incident at the rock. And yet we know that God loved Moses so deeply. As Moses nears death, God tells him to go up the mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho (Deuteronomy 32: 48-50), so that Moses can at least see the land of Canaan before He dies. God is with Moses, there on the mountain, when he dies. (Deuteronomy 34: 1-8)
God loves you deeply as well. He is there beside you now, as you wander through this day and life. He observes all of our hearts, on some level, searching for purpose and fulfillment. God knows that only His Purpose for our lives can bring us the joy and peace and love that we yearn for most deeply. (Proverbs 19:21)
God knows there will be times when we turn away from Him, for many different reasons. Help us to undertand and trust, Father, that we can always, always turn back to You.
Help us to know that you are always here, calling us back to You, and wanting nothing more than to love us.
“Come back to me, with all your heart; don’t let fear keep us apart.”1
1Gregory Norbet, “Hosea,” © 1972, 1980, The Benedictine Foundation of the State of Vermont, Inc. Here is a beautiful rendition of the song performed by Eliot Morris.
I call upon You, my God, my Mercy (Psalm 58: 18), who made me, and did not forget me, although I forgot You.
I call You into my soul, which You prepare to accept You by the longing that You breathe into it.
Do not desert me now when I call upon You, for before I called upon You, You went ahead and helped me (Isaiah 64: 4), and repeatedly You urged me on by many different words, so that from afar I would hear You, and be converted, and call upon You as You called to me.
For You have wiped away my evil deserts, O Lord, so as not to return them to these hands of mine, whereby I fell away from You, and You went ahead and helped me in all my good deserts, so that You could restore them to Your own hands, whereby You made me.1
1The Confessions of Saint Augustine, translated by John K. Ryan (New York: Image Books, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company, 2014), page 302.
On August 28, the Catholic Church celebrated the Feast Day of St. Augustine of Hippo. Recognized both within and outside of the Catholic Church as one of the greatest philosophers and theologians of all time, St. Augustine is perhaps best known for two writings: Confessions, which details the very personal drama of his faith journey; and The City of God, which explores the complex relationship between the heavenly city of God and the earthly city of the Church.
The third writing for which St. Augustine is well known is titled, The Trinity, or De Trinitate, in which he examines the history of God — and in particular, the dramatic revelation of The Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
The concept of God as three persons is hard to understand! It is one of the true mysteries of our faith. St. Augustine took 30 years to write The Trinity. It is interesting to think about what it must have been like, for this brilliant and faithful man, to grapple with the mystery of the Trinity. There is a beautiful story about an event that happened to St. Augustine, while he was working on the piece:
Augustine was walking along the seashore one day, thinking about and trying to understand the mystery of the Holy Trinity. He saw a small boy running back and forth from the water to a spot on the seashore. The boy was using a seashell to carry the water from the ocean and to place it into a small hole in the sand.
Augustine approached the child and asked, “My boy, what are doing?”
“I am trying to bring all the sea into this hole,” the boy replied with a sweet smile.
“But that is impossible, my dear child, the hole cannot contain all that water,” said Augustine.
The boy paused in his work, stood up, looked into the eyes of the Saint, and replied, “It is no more impossible than what you are trying to do – comprehend the immensity of the mystery of the Holy Trinity with your small intelligence.”
Augustine was absorbed by such a keen response from the child. He turned his eyes from the child for a short while. When he glanced down to ask him something else, the boy had vanished.
Some say that it was an angel sent by God to teach Augustine a lesson on pride in learning.
Perhaps the angel was sent by Jesus, reminding Augustine of the importance of remaining humble — and of retaining our childlike wonder. It is through wonder and humility that we draw ever closer to God:
For Jesus 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.” Matthew 18: 3-4
Note: Abraham Willaerts was a Dutch Baroque painter, mostly of marine and harbor scenes, who lived and worked in the 1600s. He painted the beautiful image above of St. Augustine and the small boy.
“Give me Yourself, O my God, give Yourself to me. Behold I love You, and if my love is too weak a thing, grant me to love You more strongly. I cannot measure my love to know how much it falls short of being sufficient, but let my soul hasten to Your embrace and never be turned away until it is hidden in the secret shelter of Your Presence.
“This only do I know, that it is not good for me when You are not with me, when You are only outside me. I want You in my very self. All the plenty in the world which is not my God is utter want. Amen.”
St. Augustine
Sometimes late at night, as I sift through the day’s happenings, I find myself wondering why I rushed through the day as a solitary soul, disconnected from Jesus and from others? Why do I keep trying to go it alone?
Often, in these moments, I become aware of how near Jesus is to me and to all of us. Sometimes, I sense the presence of my guardian angel; or recall the memory of a loved one and something they taught me.
All of us are so intimately connected with one another (John 15: 12-13) and with God (John 15: 5). There are angels all around us, protecting and guiding us. (Psalm 91: 11-12) We are also connected with those who have died and are now alive in Christ, in heaven. (1 Cor 12: 12-13).
The Bible tells us that the veil between heaven and earth is thin:
“And He will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of His people He will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 25: 7-8) “Yet He is not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17: 27)
God is so near to us. Why do we hold back and try to go it alone?
I asked a friend once what she thought about heaven. We were sitting on my back porch, enjoying a beautiful summer evening. She replied, “Heaven is not this far off place. I think it is right here.”
She reached out with her hand, into the summer air, and said, “All those we have loved and lost through death are still here. We just don’t see them because we are relying on our physical senses. As adults, we have trained ourselves not to look beyond the possibilities of the physical world – and we have definitely trained ourselves not to ask for God’s love. But all that love – God’s love, the love of friends and family who are still with us in this world, and the love of those who have passed on from this life – all that love is right beside us and within us.”
All that love is within our reach. The veil is so thin.
It was years later until I fully grasped what my friend had been trying to tell me. My father was very ill and in treatment for a Stage 4 cancer. I was crossing three states on a regular basis to be with him and my mother for the treatments. I was exhausted, physically and emotionally. And I was afraid. I am the one who always fixes things, and I could not fix this.
I crawled into bed late one night. I was staying with my parents. My father had received a treatment that day. It had been a tough day. I was crying as I started to drift toward sleep. I begged Jesus to help me, and I suddenly began to experience a deep peace. I had never felt anything like it. I could feel myself slipping deeper and deeper into that loving peace. I felt like I was floating toward something that I could not see.
I could feel myself letting go and this startled me! I sat up boltright in my bed. What just happened? Was I dreaming? But then I realized it was Jesus, flooding my heart with His Mercy and Love. I became calm and understood that I was not alone. I did not need to have all the answers.
I began to lean on Jesus a lot more, as we navigated my father’s treatment. Things became a little easier.
Months later, as I thought about that night, I remembered what my friend had said about heaven, and how thin that veil is between our earthly lives and Jesus.
All that Love and Joy is within our reach. We don’t have to go it alone.
It’s easy to forget, sometimes, why Jesus came to earth, and why He is still here among us. If we place our trust in Him — if we give Him our dreams and fears and hopes and worries — nothing can keep us from the Love and Mercy of God.
The wonder of all that He is still comes to me in waves.
“‘Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.'” Matthew 11: 28
“What is grace?” I asked God.
And He said,
“All that happens.”
Then He added, when I looked perplexed,
“Could not lovers say that every moment in their Beloved’s arms was grace? Existence is My Arms, though I well understand how one can turn away from Me until the heart has wisdom.”
— St. John of the Cross
A few days ago, I wrote about Simeon’s encounter with Jesus as a newborn, and about how Mary and Joseph marveled at the things Simeon told them about the Savior in their midst.
The Gospel of Luke also recounts these words from Simeon:
“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His mother: “‘This Child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.'” Luke 2: 33-35
I am focused today on that last sentence, “‘And a sword will pierce your own soul too.'” Luke 2: 35
These words are certainly an acknowledgement and premonition of the pain that Mary will experience as she witnesses the rejection and crucifixion of her beloved Son, Jesus. These words are also a sobering reminder of the pain and suffering the Blessed Mother still experiences today, as so many of us continue to blaspheme the sacred images and scenes of Christ’s life and take His Name in vain.
Saint Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney, a holy priest of Ars, France — a village not far from Lyons — once said this: “God gave men only ten commandments and one of the ten has for its sole object the reverence due to His Name.”1
In his early sermons to the parishioners of Ars, Saint Jean-Marie spoke often about the error and danger of blasphemies and of cursing in particular. He also loved the Blessed Mother very much, and was constantly praying the rosary and encouraging others to do so.
Under his guidance, the little village of Ars became a community of truly pious people. As the village’s remarkable transformation became more widely known, pilgrims from across France, Europe and even America arrived in Ars to receive Saint Jean-Marie’s advice and to make their confessions to him.
It is recorded that during the last ten years of Saint Jean-Marie’s life, he spent from sixteen to eighteen hours a day in the confessional. His advice was sought by bishops, priests, religious, young men and women in doubt as to their vocation, sinners, persons in all sorts of difficulties, and the sick. A few years before his death in 1859, the pilgrims visiting him annually numbered 20,000. This is an astounding number of souls.
Saint Jean-Marie had countless conversations with people about God’s second commandment.
If Saint Jean-Marie were still among us, I imagine he would ask even more so about how often, during the course of a day, that we hear and/or use God’s Name as an expression of speech? We exclaim, “My God!” with no real thought of God or calling upon Him. We hear Jesus’ Holy Name shouted in anger and cursed within oaths with no real understanding of how closely God is listening.
Are we thinking about what comes out of our mouths? Are we understanding that our words, literally, will echo throughout eternity? St. Paul taught and wrote about this often:
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the glory of redemption.” Ephesians 4: 29-30 “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” Colossians 3: 8
I find myself thinking more and more about the pain we continue to cause the Blessed Mother when we blaspheme her most Sacred and Holy Son. Mary loves God so much. When Gabriel, the archangel, arrives to inform Mary that she has been chosen to bear the Son of God, she willingly complies with God’s wishes, enabling a Love like no other to enter the world.
Why do we sometimes take this Love for granted?
Our words – spoken, written, typed – matter. Our husbands and wives and children are listening. Our parents are listening. Our grandchildren and nieces and nephews are listening. Our friends and neighbors are listening. Our priests are listening. Our coworkers are listening.
The Blessed Mother is listening.
God is listening.
Our words are precious to God because they have the power to challenge and encourage others to take some kind of action. If our hearts are gentle and open to God’s grace, our words will be filled with goodness, compelling others to be good and to do good. But if our hearts are filled with anger and maliciousness, our words will be filled slander and blasphemy.
Within the Catholic faith and tradition, the month of August is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; and August 8th is celebrated as the Feast Day of St. Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that our hearts remain open to God’s grace. Pray for us, St. Jean-Marie, that we understand the intent and implications of the second commandment; and help us to be ever mindful of our words. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of your Beloved Son, Jesus.
1Our Lady of the Rosary Library, “Respect His Holy Name” Prayer Card, Prospect, KY.
On the eighth day of Jesus’ human life, Mary and Joseph took Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, and to circumcise Him, according to the Law of Moses.
When Mary and Joseph arrived at the temple, they encountered a man called Simeon. Simeon was also a seeker, and he had been moved by the Holy Spirit to go to the temple that same day. For years, he had been awaiting the Messiah and the comfort that Israel would know in receiving its Savior. God had promised Simeon that he would not die until he had “seen the Lord’s Christ.” Luke 2: 26.
Here’s what happened, after Mary and Joseph arrived with the baby, Jesus:
“When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people; a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people, Israel.’ The Child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about Jesus.” Luke 2: 27-32
Simeon’s heart must have been overflowing with gratitude and wonder that day, as he held the Savior in his arms.
Thank you, dearest Father, for the gift of salvation. Help us to believe like Simeon, and to never lose our sense of both wonder and gratitude for this precious gift that You have given to us.
Note: Dutch painter and printmaker Rembrandt van Rijn completed the oil painting featured above and titled “Simeon’s Song of Praise” in 1631. The painting hangs in the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague, Netherlands.
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