Angels announced the first and second coming; Angels: Day 204

Angels announced the first coming of Christ in the Incarnation, says St. Leo the Great, and angels have foretold the second coming as well—so  that we would know what power Christ would come with.

But when the disciples’ eyes, turned up in earnest wonder, had followed the Lord ascending into Heaven, two angels stood by them in robes shining with brightness, saying, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into Heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into Heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into Heaven” (Acts 1:11).

By those words, all the children of the Church were taught to believe that Jesus Christ will come visibly in the same flesh with which he ascended, and not to doubt that all things are subject to him, when the ministry of angels had waited on him from the beginning of his birth.

An angel announced to the Blessed Virgin that Christ would be conceived by the Holy Spirit. The voice of heavenly beings sang of his birth to the shepherds. Messengers from above were the first to tell that he had been raised from the dead. Finally, the angels were sent to foretell his coming in the flesh to judge the world, so that we might understand what great powers will come with him when he comes as Judge, when such great ones ministered to him even when he was being judged. –St. Leo the Great, Sermon 74, 4

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Am I ready to hear St. Gabriel blow his trumpet? If the Judgment were scheduled for this time tomorrow, what would I do in the next twenty-four hours to get ready?

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, when your angels once more announce the Judgment, do not deal with me according to my sins, but according to your mercy.

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