Consumed with Longing

October 2, 2008

Memorial of the Guardian Angels

But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives, and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust; And from my flesh I shall see God; my inmost being is consumed with longing. Job 19:25-26

See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. Matthew 18:10

Piety

Guardian Angel, watch over those whose names you can read in my heart.
Guard over them with every care and make their way easy and their labors fruitful.
Dry their tears if they weep; sanctify their joys; raise their courage if they weaken;
restore their hope if they lose heart, their health if they be ill, truth if they err, repentance if they fail. Amen.

(From http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=843)

Study

The world today is filled with professions who speak up for others. There are the lobbyists representing their causes (oops, I forgot the adjectives of choice: greedy, corporate, Gucci-shod, etc.). There are the lawyers (adjectives still apply) representing their clients in disputes and claims in the court of law. There are the public relations counselors, agents, and spokespeople representing their clients in the court of public opinion. Even on the mean streets of New York and other cities, there are the aptly named Guardian Angel patrols keeping our streets and our cyberspace safe for the most vulnerable neighbors in our communities.

Advocates, representatives, supporters, promoters, activists, community organizers, backers, campaigners, believers, sponsors. There are entire professions of intermediaries to speak out for people, to assist people and organizations in speaking out or acting out for their rights and responsibilities.

However, our society has many groups who can not afford the best and brightest intermediaries that money can buy. The poor. The homeless. The elderly. The children. The imprisoned. The anawim. Who will speak for them?

Jesus was their champion from the moment he unrolled the scroll in the temple and the second he uttered a word at the Sermons on the side of the mountain and on the plain. However, when he knew that he would no longer here among us, he sent the Holy Spirit to be our advocate and theirs. Assisting the Holy Spirit are the saints and angels. The “cloud of witnesses” or “communion of saints” is filled with others who will stand before God and represent the unrepresented. Today, we celebrate the “guardian angels.”

Powerless children symbolize the voiceless in today’s Good News. The put their total trust and their entire lives in the hands of their parents. Jesus tells us that before God, we must be like these children. Innocent. Dependent. Trusting. To represent them constantly before God, the guardian angels ask no retainer and do not bill by the hour. Instead, they truly are the first example of “pro bono publico” work – for the good of the public. They are consumed with longing for those souls placed in their care just as Job is consumed with longing to be in perfect union with the Lord.

Job trusted that his Vindicator would represent him and lift him out of his misery. Jesus reminds us that these angels have a constant voice before God on behalf of the innocent children. They “always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” Why would we not want to be like these children and have our agent speak directly to the Lord on our behalf?

Action

Are you among those who will speak for them?

Pick a social issue about which you care deeply. Are you consumed with longing for that issue?

Speak out on behalf of the voiceless by drafting a letter to the editor of a local publication about that issue. Don’t forget to send it in. No sense hiding you light under a bushel or letting your salt lose its flavor.