Angels rejoice at a new arrival; Angels: Day 330

St. Ambrose remembers holy men whose prayers ended wars on earth. When such a man is taken up to Heaven, he says, the angels rejoice to welcome him.

Don’t we know that the saints are fighting even when they’re on holiday? Wasn’t Elisha at rest? Yes, at rest in body, but in spirit he was active, and he fought by his prayers when the noise of horses and the noise of a great host were heard in the camp of the Syrians, so that they thought that the forces of other princes were marching against them, to bring help to the people of Israel. So they were seized with great panic and fled—and four lepers, who had gone out hoping to die, looted their camp.

And didn’t the Lord work similar wisdom in Macedonia—or I might almost say greater—by the prayers of Acholius? For it was not by an idle panic or a vague suspicion, but by a raging plague and burning pestilence, that the Goths were troubled and alarmed. In short, they ran away hoping to escape; afterwards they came back and begged for peace to save their lives.

Thus in the great deeds of this eminent man we have seen former ages re- vived, and have witnessed the works we have read of the prophet doing. Like Elisha he was all his life in the midst of arms and battles, and by his good works he ended wars. And when tranquility was restored to his countrymen, he breathed out his holy soul—a misfortune heavier than war itself. Like Elijah he was carried up to Heaven, not in a chariot of fire, nor by horses of fire (unless, of course, we just didn’t see them), nor in any whirlwind in the sky, but by the will and in the calm of our God, and with the jubilation of the holy angels who rejoiced that such a man had come among them. –St. Ambrose, Letter 15, 7-8

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Remembering what great things have been done through prayer, how is my prayer life going? Am I the sort of person whom the angels will rejoice to greet?

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, may your angels bring peace to the earth—peace to nations, neighborhoods, and homes—and  bring all our enmities to an end.

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