MEMORIAL


The Holy Guardian Angels


“Do not remember against us the iniquities of our forefathers; let your compassion move quickly ahead of us, for we have been brought very low.” (Psalm 79, 8.)

Saint Clement of Alexandria offers the following insight on this verse from today’s Psalm:

“But God’s righteousness cried out, “If you will come to me righteous, I will deal with you justly. If you walk treacherously, I will do so also, says the Lord of hosts.” He is suggesting that he will punish the treacherous ways of hardened sinners. The righteousness that is his by nature is indicated by the iota of the name Jesus. His goodness to those who believe out of obedience is immoveable and unwavering. “Since I called and you did not obey,” the Lord says, “you have disregarded my advice and have not heeded my reprimand.” The Lord’s reprimand is very beneficial. The Lord also says, through David, that these people are “an unjust and rebellious generation, a generation that does not set its heart straight and whose spirit does not trust in God. They did not keep God’s covenant and did not want to walk according to his law.” These are the reasons for his frustration and why he will come as a judge to pass judgment on those who do not want to choose to live a good life. On account of this he treats them quite severely in the hope of thwarting their march toward death. At any rate, through David he states very clearly his reason for his threat: “They did not believe in his wondrous deeds. When he killed them, they sought him and returned and came straight to God. They remembered that God was their helper and the most high God their redeemer.” In this way, he knew that they repented because of fear after they scorned his love for humankind. As a rule, people who have little regard for what is good behave kindly and remember to love humankind out of fear of justice.” (Christ the Educator, 1)



Collect
O God,
Who in Your unfathomable providence
are pleased to send Your holy Angels to guard us,
hear our supplication as we cry to You,
that we may always be defended by their protection
and rejoice eternally in their company
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.


Glory to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen