We dig our own ditch, Angels: Day 245

Last updated on: March 25, 2017 at 3:30 am by Pete Socks

We dig our own ditch, Angels: Day 245 2017-03-19T10:38:38-05:00 Pete Socks

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When the rich man in Christ’s parable begs that Lazarus give him just a little water, Abraham tells him that there’s a great chasm between the righteous and the sinners. What does that mean? asks St. Asterius of Amasea. That the na– ture of our lives creates a vast separation between the righteous and unrighteous.

It is also worthwhile to examine intelligently how each of these men when dead was carried forth. The poor man, when he fell asleep, had angels as his guards and attendants who carried him, full of joyful expectation, to the place of rest. The rich man, Christ says, died and was buried.

It is not possible to improve the declaration of the Scriptures in any way. A single sentence adequately indicates the unhonored decease of the rich man. For the sinner when he dies is indeed buried, being earthly in body, and worldly in soul. He degrades the spiritual within him to the material by yielding to the en- ticements of the flesh, leaving behind no good memorial of his life, but, dying the death of beasts, is wrapped in unhonored forgetfulness.

After the rich man had begged him many times, and after hearing countless piteous appeals, Abraham was not moved by the laments of the suppliant. He did not take the one who was bitterly scourged away from his pain. Instead, with austere mind he confirmed the final judgment, saying that God had given each what he deserved. And he said to the rich man, “Since in life you lived in luxury through the calamities of others, what you are suffering is imposed upon you as the penalty of your sin. But to him who once had hardships, and was trampled on and endured in bitterness life in the flesh, there is allotted here a sweet and joyful existence.”

I think this parable is a material representation of a spiritual truth. We should not imagine that there is in reality a ditch dug by angels. Instead Luke, by the similitude of a chasm, has represented for us the separation of those who have lived virtuously and those who have lived otherwise. –St. Asterius of Amasea, Sermon 1: The Rich Man and Lazarus

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Which side of the great chasm am I living on—the side with the holy angels, or the side with the fallen ones? What do I need to change to make sure I’m on the right side?

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, though I know I am unworthy, you have sent angels to assist me and serve me. I rely on their help because they come from you.

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A Year with the Angels

Mike Aquilina

Saint Asterius of Amasea

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