Day 2

In today’s first reading, Ezekiel encounters an angel. As Catholics, we believe that God assigns an angel to each of us from the moment of our conception, a guardian angel. Sometimes when I think of my childhood, I think of my guardian angel being with me in the dark as I hid away from the chaos of my dysfunctional family. Today’s first reading reminds us of the protective spirits that God offers us that we would do well to be mindful of as we work our recovery.

Like many of us, today’s Gospel reading features another person who had been hurting for many years, a disabled man beside the pool at Bethesda. He was locked in his sickness, unable to find healing. Then, in a moment of clarity (maybe even after a nudge from his guardian angel), he heard Jesus ask, “Do you want to be well?” God’s voice broke through to him, the way it does for so many of us in recovery! Suddenly, we are ready to surrender, admit our powerlessness, and allow God to set us free.

Today’s Responsorial Psalm is a beautiful reminder that God and our guardian angel are always with us in trouble. We are given the wonderful promise that we are never left alone.

Reflection Questions

• What childhood coping strategies are no longer working for you? What are other healthy and holy ways of responding to your pain and suffering instead?
• As you look back on your life, in what situations can you see the beneficial intervention of the Holy Spirit or your guardian angel?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
Gospel: John 5:1-16

Reflection by Chloe D.

(5th century) — Born in Britain at the end of Roman rule, Patrick was the only name he used for himself in his own writings, but sources written a few hundred years later provide names similar to Maewyn Succat. He was kidnapped by pirates at 16 and enslaved in Ireland for 6 years. During this time his personal prayer life blossomed and he followed God’s inspiration to flee 200 miles to a port where he boarded a ship back to Britain. Patrick became a priest, then a bishop, and returned to Ireland as a missionary. He is credited with effectively converting the island in his 33 years there. Stories of shamrocks, snakes, and face-offs with druids came hundreds of years later, but the man of miracles and the inspiration of the famous “Breastplate of Saint Patrick” prayer was no doubt a historical reality.

Patrick was called back to the very people that enslaved him. Do you try to share a message of recovery with those enslaved by your previous bondage?

“I came to the Irish people to preach the Gospel and endure the taunts of unbelievers, putting up with reproaches about my earthly pilgrimage, suffering many persecutions, even bondage, and losing my birthright of freedom for the benefit of others” (Saint Patrick).

Reflection by Brad Farmer