To whom much is given...

Luke 12:48
International Standard Version

"But the servant who did things that deserved a beating without knowing it will receive a light beating. Much will be required from everyone to whom much has been given. But even more will be demanded from the one to whom much has been entrusted"

These are words that never really meant anything to me. I certainly never thought I had been given much in life. Coming from a family of 7 kids, I never had as much stuff as the other kids my age. I guess whenever I heard these words, I simply thought I had lucked out. I never thought I was given much and thus not much would be expected of me.

Boy how wrong I was.

My guardian Angel is St. Michael the Archangel. This is pretty ballin' truth be told. How do I know who my guardian angel is when almost no one else does? It's simple really. My mother had 2 miscarriages before I was conceived. The doctors didn't think there was much chance of them having another child. At the time though, my parents only had Mary and Tim and wanted more kids. So, they prayed and prayed to St. Michael, the first among the heavenly host, to come down and be my guardian angel when my mom became pregnant to me. Needless to say, I was born and he has been protecting me ever since.

As a young child I never thought to much into it. I could never see where he was or what he was doing. I still to this day can't generally understand what he does for me. Those few occasions I do, it's pretty special. The biggest time his presence is noticeable is during mass. When I was an alter server, I would often be standing alone during the reciting of the Our Father and thus had no one's hand to hold. At the same time, I could always feel someone holding my hand, generally the left. When I was young I explained this away as an imaginary friend, but when I got older, I came to see the truth. St. Michael would be present there with me praising the lord since in the end, it is his favorite thing to do, give praise.

What does this have to do with Luke 12:48?

Well quite simply, I am not the servant that didn't understand. Nor am I the one to whom much is given, but I am one of the ones to whom much is entrusted... I have been given one of the greatest gifts in God's grace, that of the protection of St. Michael. There is a battle for my soul taking place as there is for all of ours. The Archangel is definitely winning in my case. Of course, the more deeply he helps me, the more I see that is being demanded of me.

I often feel like the weight of the whole world is on my shoulders, though it is not an unbearable load. I have been given ample weapons to handle this. With Michael as my sword and shield I cannot lose. I'll get it all right eventually, and when that day arrives, I can only hope that there will be much rejoicing because of it. But until then, I shall continue to struggle with my own battles, and fighting other peoples battles as well. Because when you are entrusted with the Archangel, your life is never completely your own. Michael himself is given special assignments to help others when even their own guardians strength isn't enough. This is the same that is demanded of myself.

These are battles that I will win.

Prayer to St. Michael

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against wickedness and the snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen