The Catholic Book Blogger
The angels don’t need sermons or readings to tell them God’s word, says St. Augustine. They have God’s Word, God the Son, with them all the time. And we’ll be like that when we’re with the angels in Heaven.
“Give us this day our daily bread” comes next in the prayer.
We might be asking the Father for the support we need for the body, “bread” meaning whatever we need; or we might mean that daily bread we’re about to receive at the altar—either way, it’s good for us to pray that he should give it to us.
What else are we praying for, after all, but that we might not do anything evil that would separate us from that holy bread? And the word of God preached daily is daily bread. Just because it isn’t bread for the body, that doesn’t mean it’s not bread for the soul.
But when this life is gone, we won’t look for the bread hunger looks for, and we won’t have to receive the sacrament of the altar either. Then we’ll be with
Christ, whose body we receive now. I won’t need to speak these words to you any- more, and you won’t have to read the Scriptures anymore, because we’ll see the One who is the Word of God himself, by whom all things were made. By him the angels become wise. They don’t need long-winded speeches: they just drink in the only Word, and then, filled with him, they burst out in unfailing praise.
–St. Augustine, Sermon 9 on the New Testament, 6
IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
Do I spend enough time with the Word of God? Would it help me be more regular in reading Scripture, or listening to the readings and the homily at Mass, if I remembered that I’m gaining, however imperfectly, the knowledge the angels have in Heaven?
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, feed us as you feed your angels, with bread from Heaven.
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.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In