The world belongs to Christ, not Satan; Angels: Day 120

Satan tempted Christ by promising to give him all the kingdoms of  the world. But those are not his to give, says St. Cyril of Alexandria. All the kingdoms of the world already belong to Christ, and any power Satan has is his only by fraud.

“And the devil took him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time” (Luke 4:5). Malignant, wicked, and cursed being! How did you dare show the Lord all the kingdoms of the whole creation, and say, “All these are mine; now therefore if you will fall down and worship me, I will give them to you”? How can you promise what is not yours? Who made you heir of God’s kingdom? Who made you lord of all under Heaven? You have seized these things by fraud. Restore them therefore to the incarnate Son, the Lord of all.

Hear what the prophet Isaiah says about you: “For a burning place has long been prepared; yea, for the king it is made ready, its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brim- stone, kindles it” (Isa. 30:33). Then how did you, whose lot is the inextinguishable flame, promise to the King of all what he already owns? Did you think he would worship you—he at whom all things tremble—while the Seraphim and all the angelical powers hymn his glory?

“It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve’” (Luke 4:8). It was appropriate for him to mention this commandment, striking as it were his very heart. For before his advent, Satan had deceived all un- der Heaven, and was himself everywhere worshiped: but the law of God, ejecting him from the dominion he had usurped by fraud, has commanded men to wor- ship only him who by nature and in truth is God, and to offer service to him alone. –St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke, Sermon 12

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

When I feel tempted to despair over the world, does it help to remember that Satan has no real rule, and that Christ wins in the end?

CLOSING PRAYER

Preserve me, Lord, from all temptations of the evil one, and keep me in your service.

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