All things have being through God, Angels: Day 002

All things have being through God, Angels: Day 002 July 23, 2016

angels_augustine_1All things have being through God

St. Augustine presents a hierarchy of living beings, from plants through angelsand shows us how all those things, no matter how noble or complex, can only have their being through God. In doing so he incidentally gives us a good description of how angels compare with other living beings.

Whatever we’re thinking of—whether it’s the whole world, its shape, qualities, and orderly movement, and all the objects in it; or whether it’s all life, either the kind that only nourishes and maintains, as trees do; or what, besides this, has also sensation, as the animals have; or what adds intelligence to all these things, as human beings do; or what does not need the support of food, but only maintains, feels, and understands, as the angels do—all these things can only be through God, who absolutely is.

For God it is not one thing to be, and another to live, as though he could be but not be living. Nor is it one thing for him to live, and another thing to under- stand, as though he could live, but not understand. Nor is it one thing for him to understand, and another thing to be blessed, as though he could understand and not be blessed. But for him, to live, to understand, to be blessed, are to be. –St. Augustine, City of God, 8.6

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

God gives me the same constant care he gives the glorious angels—all the things I need to keep me alive from moment to moment. Am I careful to give thanks for those things at every opportunity?

CLOSING PRAYER

Heavenly Father, in every place may I show respect to your Angel. May I be grateful for his benefits. May I honor his greatness.

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