Redeemed from the devil and his angels; Angels: Day 196

In St. Augustine’s time, the Roman Empire was crumbling, and barbarian attacks were the worst fear of every civilized family. (Later, St. Augustine himself would die as the Vandals were destroying his own city.) But Christ, he says, redeemed us from a far worse danger than barbarian captivity.

Brethren, if the ancient prophets, our fathers, sighed after the Jerusalem above even before the Lord Jesus Christ came in the flesh, before he rose from the dead, think how much we ought to long for the place to which he has gone before us, and which he never left. For the Lord did not come to us in such a way that he left the angels. He both stayed for them and came to us. For them he remained in majesty; for us he came in the flesh.

But where were we? If he is our Redeemer, then we were held captives. But where were we held, that he should come to redeem us as captives? Were we held among barbarians?

No, worse than any barbarians are the devil and his angels. Before our time, they had possession of the human race. From them he redeemed us, giving for us not gold or silver, but his own blood. –St. Augustine, Exposition on Ps. 126, 1

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Jesus is standing by with my price—but am I ready to walk out of my captivity? Or do I enjoy the company of my demons too much?

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, I renounce the devil and all his empty promises.  Send your angels to protect  me, and guide me to the perfect redemption.

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