Like angels on earth; Angels: Day 262

St. Ambrose tells us that the death and resurrection of  Christ actually changed human nature, making us capable of  sharing the grace of  a new creation. We don’t have to wait until we die: through Christ, we can live like angels on earth.

This is why his grace and goodness have been formed upon us in Christ Jesus: so that, though we were dead according to works, we could be redeemed through faith and saved by grace, and receive the gift of this great deliverance. Our very nature, raised in him, so to speak, now shares in the grace of a new creation. We are newly created in Christ. Before, we had fallen away through the corruption of our guilty ancestry, but now we can walk in good works.

Now that the strife that existed in the flesh before has been removed, a uni- versal peace has been made in Heaven. Human beings can be like angels upon earth, and the Gentiles and Jews can be made one, and both the new and old man can be united—the middle wall of partition, which, like a hostile barrier, had once divided them, has broken down. When the nature of our flesh had stirred up anger, discord, and dissension, and the law had bound us with the chains of condemnation, Christ Jesus subdued the wantonness and intemperance of the flesh by mortification, and made void the law of commandment contained in ordinances. In that way he declared that the decrees of the spiritual Law are not to be interpreted according to the letter. He put an end to the slothful rest of the Sabbath and to the superfluous rite of outward circumcision, and opened access for all by one Spirit to the Father. For how can there be any discord, where there is one calling, one body, and one spirit? –St. Ambrose, Letter 76, 8-9

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

What’s the first thing I’d have to change about my life if I really wanted to live like an angel on earth?

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord who created me, brought me to life, and showed me the way to salvation, send your holy angels to me, so that I may live according to your Word.

_________________________________________________________________________________________
Remember to subscribe to my feed so you will not miss a day! This recurring feature at The Catholic Blogger is possible through the cooperation of author Mike Aquilina and publisher Saint Benedict Press. To get your own copy of this book, click below.