Angels derive their honor from worshiping God, Angels: Day 018

Angels derive their honor from worshiping God

An angel is a glorious being, says  St. Ambrose—but  the angel’s glory is reflected, so to speak: it comes from being a servant of  the God who is glorious by nature.

Let our adversaries now admit that it is proved beyond doubt: the maj- esty of the Father and of the Son is one—especially since the Lord himself has said, “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26). What is the meaning of the words “and of the holy angels,” but that the servants derive their honor from the worship of their Lord?

The Son, therefore, ascribed his majesty to his Father as well as to himself— not, of course, in such a way that the angels should share in that majesty on equal terms with the Father and the Son, but that they should behold the surpassing glory of God. For truly not even angels possess a majesty of their own, after the manner in which Scripture speaks of the Son, “then he will sit on his glorious throne” (Matt. 25:31); but they stand in the presence, so that they may see the glory of the Father and the Son, in such degrees of vision as they are either worthy of or able to bear. –St. Ambrose, Exposition of the Christian Faith, 3.12

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Do I remember, like the good angels, that everything good in me comes from God? Or do I tend to be proud of my accomplishments as if they were really my own?

CLOSING PRAYER

Guardian Angel, lead me to place all my glory and pride, as you do, in God alone.

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