We were meant to live like angels; Angels: Day 295

In the Garden of Eden, says St. John of Damascus, Adam and Eve lived like angels—without a care in the world. That’s the way we were all meant to live, and that’s the way Christ has been trying to teach us to live.

Before they took of the fruit, “the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed” (Gen. 2:25).

For God meant that we should be thus free from passion, and this is indeed the mark of a mind absolutely void of passion. Furthermore, he meant us to be free from care, and to have one work to perform: to sing the praises of the Creator as the angels do, without ceasing or intermission, and to delight in contemplation of him and to cast all our care on Him.

This is what the prophet David proclaimed to us when he said, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you” (Ps. 55:22). And, again, in the Gos- pels, Christ taught his disciples saying, “Do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on” (Matt. 6:25).

–St. John of Damascus, Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, 2.11

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

When I am single-minded, as the angels are, I will worry less.

CLOSING PRAYER

Holy angels, teach us to care, but not to be anxious.

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.