Perhaps you’re familiar with the Native American rite of passage ritual when their boys turn 12. The boy would be blindfolded, lead deep into the woods, then seated by a tree. If the boy could sit there alone all night without removing the blindfold, he was considered a man. But he would have to just sit there, aware that there were predators and enemies lurking nearby. As you can imagine, that would be hard to do with all the rustling of the leaves and the threatening noises of the woods at night.
But in the morning when he removed his blindfold, he would be surprised to see his father just a few feet away, poised with his weapon ready to protect him. His father had been there quietly waiting, guarding him all night, and the boy wasn’t aware of his presence at all.
We’re hearing all this week about poor Job, that innocent man whose world came crashing down on him. It seemed like the ultimate story of unfairness.
- First, raiders stole his belongings and slaughtered his servants.
- Then a fire burned his sheep and a mighty wind not only destroyed his house, but killed his sons and daughters.
- Finally, Job came down with a horrible, painful disease. No wonder we heard him cry out in today’s reading: “Why did I not perish at birth?”
Job, described as the best man on earth, was suffering the worst calamities. It’s like a divine soap opera all week as we hear Job’s story unfold and how he responded.
- Would Job’s faith melt away if all his riches and wealth were taken away?
- Would Job continue to trust God even though his life was falling apart?
- Would Job turn against God?
Like Job, when darkness envelopes us, sometimes we question where God is. Faith assures us this: more than just quietly waiting and protecting us through the darkness, like that Dad guarding his son, God is holding us as well. God’s silence is not the same as God’s absence. God is always present, even when it feels totally the opposite.
We celebrate today our guardian angels, one of the ways God protects us and is present to us. We remember the belief that God sends a spirit to watch every individual. In the New Testament there’s the angel who ministered to Christ in the garden, and the angel who delivered St. Peter from prison. In Hebrews, we read: "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister to those who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?"
No doubt we all have stories to tell of close calls, and credit our guardian angel with helping us. Our guardian angel’s ultimate function is to protect us and lead us eventually to the Kingdom of Heaven.
In gratitude, let’s pray together the traditional prayer to our guardian angel.
Angel of God, my guardian dear
to whom God's love commits me here.
Ever this day/night be at my side
to light, to guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.
