Demons recognize Christ but do not know him; Angels: Day 186

Demons recognize Christ but do not know him; Angels: Day 186 January 23, 2017

angels_augustine_3Christ revealed enough of  himself  to the demons so that they would fear and obey him, says St. Augustine. But they didnt know him the way he is known by the holy angels, who love his righteousness and share his eternal life.

The devils themselves knew this manifestation of God so well that they said to the Lord, though he was clothed with the infirmity of flesh, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?” (Mark 1:24).

From these words, it is clear that they had great knowledge, and no charity. They feared his power to punish, and did not love his righteousness. He let them know as much as he pleased, and he was pleased to let them know as much as was necessary. But he did not make himself known the same way as he does to the holy angels, who know him as the Word of God, and rejoice in his eternity, which they share. He made himself known only as much as was needed to terrify the beings from whose tyranny he was going to free those who were predestined to his king- dom and the glory of it, eternally true and truly eternal.

He made himself known to the demons, therefore, by some worldly effects of his power, and evidences of his mysterious presence, which were more easily discerned by the angelic senses even of wicked spirits than by human infirmity.

But when he judged it advisable to suppress these signs gradually, and to retire into deeper obscurity, the prince of the demons was not sure he was the Christ, and tried to find out by tempting him, as much as he permitted himself to be tempted, so that he might make the humanity he wore an example for us to imitate. But after that temptation, when, as Scripture says (Matt. 4:3-11), he was ministered to by the angels who are good and holy, and therefore objects of terror to the impure spirits, he revealed more and more distinctly to the demons how great he was, so that, even though the infirmity of his flesh might seem contempt- ible, none dared to resist his authority. –St. Augustine, City of God, 9.21

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Do I know Christ as my joy and my life, the way the angels do? Or do I only recognize him, the way the demons do? How can I know Christ better?

CLOSING PRAYER

Holy angels, my protectors, you will what God wills, on Earth as in Heaven. Guard me from the snares of the one who was a murderer from the beginning, and who seeks my demise.

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