Will You Push Me To The Dance Floor?

October 2, 2018

Today I’m going to share a story that might not directly relate to the gospel, but I think I can tie it into the Memorial of our Guardian Angels. Today’s gospel is the same gospel that I wrote about on August 4, 2018, http://jenbedison.blogspot.com/2018/08/little-and-lost.html so you can also read that reflection if you’d like. 

Everyday, my friend, Frank (actually named Francis Patrick Michael Kevin after his dad’s four Irish Catholic brothers) asks me the same question. With his 3-pack-a-day, 91 year-old voice with prominent and quintessential New York accent, Frank says, “Sweetheart, will you push me to the dance floor?” Frank has COPD and it is extremely difficult for him to push himself in his wheelchair on the carpet in our building, however, once he hits the dance floor, it is smooth sailing and moving forward is easy and almost effortless because of the push. For me, obviously, this is a metaphor for our spiritual lives at times. When we labor to move forward, we need to turn to one another and ask, “Will you push me to the dance floor?” Sometimes the push will be gentle, sometimes assertive, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, but eventually that push will get us to the dance floor where we will then be able to move effortlessly. 

As I was thinking about my Guardian Angel this morning, it came to mind that my Guardian Angel is constantly pushing me to the dance floor. I know that mostly I feel real bad for my angel because I keep him so dang busy all the time, and I often picture him needing a beer at the end of the day because he pretty much spent it protecting me from my own stupidity, but I digress. What if my Guardian Angel is the one who pushes me when I can’t push myself, and he simply points me in the direction of the dance floor? How beautiful. There are many angels fighting the battles of our lives (thank you, God), but what if our Guardian Angels’ primary role is to get us to the dance floor? I know this is far from theological and quite the stretch on my part to even consider, but what a lovely thing to ponder today. Our Guardian Angels stay with us forever and I think it is wonderful to imagine each one as our escort to the dance floor. Guess who loves to dance? Yes, and He is there waiting for us.

On this Memorial of the Guardian Angels, may we ask, “Sweetheart, will you push me to the dance floor?” where smooth sailing and Jesus wait, and it is well with my soul. 

Memorial of the Guardian Angels
Lectionary: 456/650

Reading 1 JB 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23

Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.
Job spoke out and said:

Perish the day on which I was born,
the night when they said, "The child is a boy!"

Why did I not perish at birth,
come forth from the womb and expire?
Or why was I not buried away like an untimely birth,
like babes that have never seen the light?
Wherefore did the knees receive me?
or why did I suck at the breasts?

For then I should have lain down and been tranquil;
had I slept, I should then have been at rest
With kings and counselors of the earth
who built where now there are ruins
Or with princes who had gold
and filled their houses with silver.

There the wicked cease from troubling,
there the weary are at rest.

Why is light given to the toilers,
and life to the bitter in spirit?
They wait for death and it comes not;
they search for it rather than for hidden treasures,
Rejoice in it exultingly,
and are glad when they reach the grave:
Those whose path is hidden from them,
and whom God has hemmed in!

Responsorial Psalm PS 88:2-3, 4-5, 6, 7-8

R. (3) Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
O LORD, my God, by day I cry out;
at night I clamor in your presence.
Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my call for help.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
For my soul is surfeited with troubles
and my life draws near to the nether world.
I am numbered with those who go down into the pit;
I am a man without strength.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
My couch is among the dead,
like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom you remember no longer
and who are cut off from your care.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
You have plunged me into the bottom of the pit,
into the dark abyss.
Upon me your wrath lies heavy,
and with all your billows you overwhelm me.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.

Alleluia PS 103:21

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Bless the LORD, all you angels,
you ministers, who do his will.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 18:1-5, 10

The disciples approached Jesus and said,
"Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

"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."