Mass Readings
Catholic Ireland
Liturgical Readings for : Monday, 2nd October, 2023Léachtaí Gaeilge
Next Sunday's Readings
02-10 The Guardian Angels
FIRST READING :
A reading from the book of Exodus 23:20-23
My angel will go before you.
The Lord says this:
“I myself will send an angel before you to guard you as you go and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Give him reverence and listen to all that he says. Offer him no defiance; he would not pardon such a fault, for my name is in him. If you listen carefully to his voice and do all that I say, I shall be enemy to your enemies, foe to your foes. My angel will go before you.‘
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 90
Response The Lord has commanded his angel to keep you in all your ways.
1. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High and abides in the shade of the Almighty
says to the Lord: ‘My refuge, my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!’ Response
2. It is he who will free you from the snare of the fowler who seeks to destroy you;
he will conceal you with his pinions and under his wings you will find refuge. Response
3. You will not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the plague that prowls in the darkness nor the scourge that lays waste at noon. Response
4. Upon you no evil shall fall, no plague approach where you dwell.
For you has he commanded his angels, to keep you in all your ways. Response
Gospel Acclamation Ps 102: 21
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Give thanks to the Lord, all his hosts, his servants who do his will.
Alleluia
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 18:1-5. 10 Glory to you, O Lord.
Their angels are continuously in the presence of my Father in heaven.
The disciples came to Jesus and said,
‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?‘
So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said,
‘I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ‘
‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
‘See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven.
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Reflection Oct. 2 The Guardian Angels Matthew 18:1-5, 10
With reference to the guardian angels, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says that ‘from infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession’. That dual role of the guardian angels referred to in the Catechism – watchful care and intercession – is reflected in the two readings for this feast. The first reading speaks of the watchful care of the angels. God promises his people to send an angel before them, to guard them as they go and to bring them to the place that God has prepared for them.
In the gospel reading, Jesus speaks of the angels of children who, in heaven, are continually in the presence of God, interceding for them and pleading their cause. The feast of the guardian angels reminds us that we are not without spiritual help on our journey through life. The watchful care and intercession of the angels is but a reflection of the even greater watchful care and intercession of the Lord. Like the angels, although in a more complete way, the Lord goes with us as our guide and guardian on our journey; he is the good shepherd who leads us to springs of living water. Like the angels, although again in a more complete way, the Lord intercedes for us, prays for us. The role of the angels also reminds us of our own role as disciples of the Lord. We too are called to journey with each other in a supportive and caring way; we too are called to intercede for each other. Like the angels, although in a different way to them, we are called to be the Lord’s messengers.
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd. and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from Reflections on the Weekday Readings 2022-2023: Your word is a lamp for my feet and light for my path by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications 2022, c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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