Serve God as the angels do; Angels: Day 255

How  do we treat our own servants? St. Cyril of  Alexandria points out that God has a right to be at least as severe on us as we are on the people who serve us. The angels constantly serve God in everything they do: should God expect any less from us?

Come, let us see what blame we incur by our disobedience by looking at what happens among ourselves. We ourselves usually demand obedience mingled with fear from our servants. When they plan rebellion, and throw off the yoke of servitude, we make them humble by bonds and tortures and the scourge.

So when we, who are of earth, and by nature the brethren of those who are bowed beneath the yoke, cannot tolerate them when rebellious, how will God en- dure it—he whom Principalities, Thrones, and Lordships worship, and in whose presence the high-exalted Seraphim stand, readily rendering their service? For the divine David somewhere says of them in the Psalms,

Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will! (Ps. 103:20-21)

It is dangerous, therefore, and deserves final condemnation, to be unwilling to submit to Christ the Almighty. But those who prize his service shall receive the most excellent blessings. –St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke, Sermon 34

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Have I taken up Christ’s easy yoke, as the holy angels do so readily? Or is there still part of me that demands to have things my way instead of Christ’s?

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, I am a poor, unworthy, and sinful servant; but teach me to serve like an angel, and let me bear fruit.

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