Equal to angels; Angels: Day 290

Answering the resurrection-denying Sadducees who tried to trip Jesus up with a tricky question about marriage in the life to come, Christ says that in that future life we will be equal to the angels (Luke 20:27-40).  That tells us, says St. Cyril of Alexandria, what our blessed life of the future will be like.

“The sons of this age,” Christ says—those, that is, who lead worldly carnal lives, full of fleshly lust—for the procreation of children “marry and are given in marriage”; but those who have maintained an honorable and elect life, full of all excellence, and have therefore been counted worthy of a glorious and marvelous resurrection, will certainly be raised far above the life we lead in this world; for they will live as saints ought to live who already have been brought near to God.

“Because they are equal to angels and are sons of God.” Since all fleshly lust is taken away, and no place at all is left in them for bodily pleasure, they resemble the holy angels, fulfilling a spiritual and not a material service, as is appropriate for holy spirits. At the same time, they are counted worthy of the kind of glory that the angels enjoy. –St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke, Sermon 136

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

If I’ve been called to marriage, how is my married life now a preparation for the heavenly life we will share with the angels?

CLOSING PRAYER

Guardian Angel, teach me to be attentive to the guardians of those with whom I live, that I may give good example, that I may serve at all times, and my speech may abound in kindness.

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