Even the evil angels are God’s instruments; Angels: Day 123

Last updated on: November 21, 2016 at 3:30 am by Pete Socks

Even the evil angels are God’s instruments; Angels: Day 123 2016-11-15T22:55:45-05:00 Pete Socks

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

God uses the evil angels as his instruments for correcting us, says St. Augustine. The purpose of these punishments is to bring us back to the right path, so that we won’t be condemned forever at the last judgment.

“God is a just judge, strong and patient: is he angry every day?” (Ps. 7:11). What God is judge, but the Lord, who judges the people?

He is just; “he will repay every man for what he has done” (Matt. 16:27).

He is strong, meaning in endurance; though he is all-powerful, for our salva-

tion he even put up with ungodly persecutors.

He is patient; after his resurrection, he did not hurry off right away to punish even those who persecuted him, but put up with them, so that they might at last turn from that ungodliness to salvation. And still he puts up with them, reserving the last penalty for the last judgment, and up to this present time inviting sinners to repentance.

“Is he angry every day?” Perhaps “bringing in anger” would be a better way of putting it than “being angry” (and so we find it in the Greek copies). In other words, the anger with which he punishes is not in him, but in the minds of those ministers who obey the commandments of truth, through whom orders are given right down to the lower ministries, who are called angels of wrath, to punish sin. They delight in the punishment of mortals not for the sake of justice, in which they have no pleasure, but for the sake of malice. God then does not bring in anger every day—that is, he does not collect his ministers for vengeance every day. For now the patience of God invites to repentance: but in the last time, when mor- tals through their hardness and unrepentant hearts have stored up for themselves wrath “on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed” (Rom. 2:5), then he will brandish his sword. –St. Augustine, Exposition on Psalm 7

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Do I look upon my misfortunes as occasions of conversion? Do I stand with the good angels in everyday skirmishes of spiritual warfare?

CLOSING PRAYER

Holy angels, win me the fortitude to face adversity, to accept chastisement for my sins, and to grow in virtue through the trials that God permits in my life.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Remember to subscribe to my feed so you will not miss a day! This recurring feature at The Catholic Blogger is possible through the cooperation of author Mike Aquilina and publisher Saint Benedict Press. To get your own copy of this book, click below.

A Year with the Angels

Mike Aquilina

Saint Augustine

Saint Benedict Press

Previous Post

November 20, 2016

The devil's power to hurt come's from God; Angels: Day 122

Next Post

November 22, 2016 Demons are weapons against the devil; Angels: Day 124

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category A Year with Mary A Year with the Angels A Year with the Church Fathers Book News Children's Review Featured CD Giveaway Guest Post Interview Linked Review Media review Movie Review New Releases Off the Shelf Review speakers Teen Review The Clergy Speaks The Laity Speaks The Open Book Podcast Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz