When we gather for Mass, we are conscious that the angels gather with us. And they are involved. In the Penitential Rite, each of us asks “all the Angels and Saints,” along with the rest of the assembly, to “pray for me to the Lord our God.” And we end the Preface before Eucharistic Prayers II and IV saying, “with the Angels and all the Saints we proclaim your glory, as with one voice we sing, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy.’” 

Scripture shows the angels involved in everything that concerns humans (Psalms 9:11; Matthew 18:10; Hebrews 1:14): 

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 

Do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. 

Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?   

They play a part in the “end time” (Matthew 13:49; 16:27; 24:31; Luke 12:8): 

At the end of the age, the angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 

For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone…. He will send out his angels… and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 

And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God. 

Daniel 7:9-14 is foretelling the victory and the reign of Christ the King: 

An Ancient One took his throne… a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him…. I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed. 

This is what we are working for, the outcome of our stewardship. It is echoed in Revelation 5:1-13, the “theme song” of the Rite of Communion: 

I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne… they numbered… thousands of thousands, singing… “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” I heard every creature in heaven and on earth… singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 

John 1:47-51: “You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” Jesus is “Jacob’s ladder” between heaven and earth. All through Scripture, we see angels facilitating the passage both ways. 

The Responsorial (Psalm 138) invites us: “In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.”  

Prayer Prompt: What does it mean to live “in the sight of” the angels? Do I use the angels? And let God use me as one? 

— Fr. David M. Knight

View today’s Mass readings, Lectionary #647, on the USCCB website here

Fr. David M. Knight (1931-2021) was a priest of the Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee, a prolific writer, and a highly sought after confessor, spiritual director, and retreat master. He authored more than 40 books and hundreds of articles that focus primarily on lay spirituality and life-long spiritual growth.