Know your angels; Angels: Day 210

A very early Christian writing, The Shepherd of Hermas, gives us the famous image of the good and bad angels competing for our attention. In a vision, a glorious shepherd explains to the author that you can tell the angels apart by the suggestions they give you.

“Hear now,” he said, “about faith. There are two angels with each per-

son—one of righteousness, and the other of wickedness.”

And I said to him, “How, sir, am I to know the powers of these? For both angels live with me.”

“Hear,” he said, “and understand them. The angel of righteousness is gentle and modest, meek and peaceful. So when he comes into your heart, immediately he talks to you of righteousness, purity, chastity, contentment, and of every righ- teous deed and glorious virtue. When all these come into your heart, know that the angel of righteousness is with you. These are the deeds of the angel of righteousness. Trust him, then, and his works.

“Now look at the works of the angel of wickedness. First, he is angry, and bitter, and foolish, and his works are evil, and ruin the servants of God. So when he comes into your heart, know him by his works.”

And I said to him, “How, sir, I shall perceive him? I do not know.”

“Hear and understand,” he said. “When anger comes upon you, or harsh- ness, know that he is in you; and you will also know that he is in you when you are attacked by a longing for many business deals, and the richest delicacies, and drunken revels, and various luxuries, and improper things, and by a lust for wom- en, and by overreaching, and pride, and blustering, and by whatever is like these. When these come into your heart, know that the angel of wickedness is in you.

“These, then, are the actions of both angels. Understand them, and trust the angel of righteousness; but go away from the angel of iniquity, because his instruction is bad in every deed.” –The Shepherd of Hermas, book  2, commandment 8

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Am I aware at all times that my life is influenced by both good and evil spirits? Do I pray for the gift of discernment of spirits?

CLOSING PRAYER

My Guardian Angel, fortify my weakness and shield me from the many temptations of the evil one.

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