The strange case of Sodom; Angels: Day 084

The strange case of Sodom

The unnatural lust of  the Sodomites, says St. Ephrem the Syrian, was only possible because they thought the angels were human. What can we say about someone who knows that God is God, yet treats God as if he were a creature?

With brightness, glorious though borrowed, the angels entered into So- dom. They saw the brightness that was fairer than all, and they were frantic, old men and young. The fire of the Most High came down to aid the sons of the Most High—not so that it might deliver the holy, but so that it might burn up the proud ones.

The high ones changed their appearance, and that is why those below were bold. If the spiritual beings had shown their light, the fleshly beings would have been prostrated. They thought the angels, a spiritual nature, were of their own nature, and that is why they lusted, though they did not change their nature. Lust lusted after those of its own race in a way that was contrary to nature; it would not have lusted after the high ones, who were foreign to its nature. Lust lusted after the high ones, because they had taken the form of those below. It was against nature, and yet it was in nature, because lust lusted for what was its own.

Whoever pries into God is mad beyond all nature. You confess his Essence, but you pry into him as if he were a creature? If you call him God, there is no room for prying. Faith is the medium that must go between you and God. –St. Ephrem the Syrian,  Rhythm 3 on the Faith

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Even the angels are beyond my understanding without faith. Is faith always the medium in my relationship with God?

CLOSING PRAYER

Guardian Angel, always be with me to check my pride, and to remind me that humble faith is always the proper approach to God.

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