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God won’t hear your prayer if you ask him to curse someone you hate, says St. Cyril of Alexandria. You should be asking for the spiritual gifts that will make you part of the company of the angels.
When you ask for anyone to die or be exposed to inevitable tortures, be- cause they have annoyed or molested you in any way, God will not grant it. For he wills us to be long-suffering in mind, and not to pay anyone back with evil for evil, but to pray for those who steal from us, to do good to those who injure us, and to be imitators of his kindness.
For this reason Solomon was praised: when offering up prayers to God, he said, “Give your servant a heart to hear, and to judge your people righteously” (1 Kings 3:6-9). And it pleased the Lord that Solomon asked this thing. And what did God, who loves virtue, say to him? “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind” (1 Kings 3:11-12).
You, therefore, should ask God to give you abundant spiritual gifts. Ask for strength, so that you may be able to resist every fleshly lust with vigor. Ask God for an uncovetous disposition, long suffering, gentleness, and the mother and nurse of all good—I mean patience. Ask for calmness of temper, continence, a pure heart; and further, ask also for the wisdom that comes from God.
These things he will give readily. These save the soul. These work in it that better beauty, and imprint God’s image in it. This is the spiritual wealth, the riches that never need to be abandoned. These prepare for us the lot of the saints, and make us members of the company of the holy angels. –St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke, Sermon 79
IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
Do my desires render me fit to share the company of the angels? Do I always will good things, and never evil, for others?
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, make me perfect in piety, as the angels are, and lead me quickly to the hope of eternal life, and make me heir of the kingdom of Heaven, by the aid of Christ, the Savior of us all; by whom, and with whom, to God the Father be praise and dominion, with the Holy Spirit, forever and ever.
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