“Lord of all” includes the angels, Angels: Day 040

“Lord of all” includes the angels, Angels: Day 040 August 30, 2016

angels_cyril_of_jerusalem_1“Lord of all” includes the angels

When  Peter says that Christ is “Lord  of  all,”  he means  Lord of  everything, says St. Cyril of Jerusalem. That includes angels and all the heavenly beings.

“He is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36). But when he says “of all,” do not leave out anything from his lordship. Angels, Archangels, Principalities, Powers, or any other created thing named by the Apostles—they are all under the lordship of the Son.

He is the Lord of angels, as you have read in the Gospels: “Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him” (Matt. 4:11). The Scripture does not say, “they helped him,” but “they ministered to him”—that is, like servants.

When he was about to be born of a virgin, Gabriel was his servant, having received his service as a particular dignity. When he was about to go into Egypt, so that he might overthrow the gods of Egypt made with hands, again an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream (Matt. 2:13). After he had been crucified and had risen again, an angel brought the good news, and as a trustworthy servant said to the women, “Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you” (Matt. 28:7)—almost as if to say, “I have not neglected my command: I declare that I have told you, and if you disregard it the blame will not be on me, but on those who disregard it.”

This, then, is the one Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the lesson we just read speaks: “For although there may be so-called gods in Heaven or on Earth—as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’—yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (1 Cor. 8:5-6). –St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 10, 10

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Do I recognize that I occupy a creation that includes creatures much more intel- ligent and stronger than I am? Do I strive to praise God with these creatures, the holy angels?

CLOSING PRAYER

Merciful God, teach me to be humble. Give me the light to see myself  as I am, to see the angels as they are, and to praise you for your creation.

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