“Angel” was his job not his nature; Angels: Day 183

“Angel” was his job not his nature; Angels: Day 183 January 20, 2017

angels_cyril_of_alexandria_1Some even in the time of Christ  thought John the Baptist was a heavenly angel in the form of a man. The word “angel” is from the Greek word for “messenger,” and Greek makes no distinction between “angel” and “messenger.”  Thus  St. Cyril has to explain that “messenger” is Johns job description, not his nature.

There was already a rumor going around that the holy Baptist was not really a man by nature, but one of the holy angels in Heaven, making use of a hu- man body and sent by God to preach. As evidence for this inference they pointed out that God had said, “Behold, I send  my messenger” (in Greek, angelon) “to  prepare the way before me” (Mal. 3:1).

But those who imagine that John was an angel are wrong. They do not real- ize that the name “messenger” refers to ministry rather than to essence, even as in the history of the blessed Job “messengers” one after the other run to announce his various sufferings, and minister to those incurable afflictions. The very wise Paul explains something like this about the angels: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?” (Heb.1:14).

John the blessed Baptist, then, is called an angel or messenger by the mouth of the Lord, not because he is actually by nature an angel, but because he is sent to announce and cry aloud, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” –St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on John, 1.7

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

How well am I doing my job as God’s angel—that is, as his messenger of the Gospel?

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, send me forth into the world as your angel to proclaim the gospel of your kingdom.

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