Like the angels, but different, Angels: Day 024

Like the angels, but different

St. Gregory Nazianzen says that we were created as a sort of  second world, both earthly and heavenly. Like the angels we have a spiritual  nature fit for praising God, but we also have a material nature that learns through suffering.

The Creator, the Word took a body from matter that already existed, and placed his own breath in it. And the Word knew that this was an intelligent soul, and the image of God.

Thus he made man as a sort of second world. He placed him, great in his littleness, on the earth—a new angel, a mixed worshiper, fully initiated into the visible creation, but only partially into the intellectual creation. He is earthly and heavenly, temporal yet immortal, visible yet intellectual, halfway between great- ness and lowliness, combining spirit and flesh in one person—spirit because of the favor bestowed on him, flesh because of the height to which he has been raised— spirit so that he might continue to live and praise his Benefactor, flesh so that he might suffer, and by suffering remember and be corrected if he became proud of his greatness.

He is a living creature trained here and moved elsewhere—and, to complete the mystery, deified by his inclination to God. –St. Gregory Nazianzen, Oration 38.11

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Do I appreciate the life I share in common with the angels? Do I understand the ways I differ from them? Do I glory in that difference?

CLOSING PRAYER

Holy Angel, help me to see that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, as are you and all my neighbors in Heaven and on Earth.

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