{"id":5989,"date":"2016-11-26T03:30:21","date_gmt":"2016-11-26T08:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicbookblogger\/?p=5989"},"modified":"2016-11-25T15:09:37","modified_gmt":"2016-11-25T20:09:37","slug":"angels-are-avenging-powers-angels-day-128","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicbookblogger\/2016\/11\/26\/angels-are-avenging-powers-angels-day-128\/","title":{"rendered":"Angels are avenging powers; Angels: Day 128"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"angels_john_chrysostom_1\"<\/a>Although the good angels want nothing more than our salvation, sometimes <\/em>th<\/em>e<\/em>y\u00a0<\/em>must be the instruments of \u00a0<\/em>God\u2019s <\/em>judgment. St. John Chrysostom \u00a0points out <\/em>that, although God came down to earth himself \u00a0to save us, when it is necessa<\/em>r<\/em>y <\/em>to punish us that work is usually done by the a<\/em>ngels<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Let us not be unduly philosophical. Let us show ourselves pitying, that we may be pitied.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing like this beautiful trait: to us, nothing so marks the stamp of human nature as showing pity and being kind to our fellow humans. In fact, this is why the laws consign the whole business of punishment to public executioners. They compel the judge to punish so far as to pronounce the sentence, but after that they call on the executioners to perform the act itself.<\/p>\n

This is a great truth: though the punishment is just, it is not the part of a generous soul to inflict punishment. It requires another sort of person for this. Even God doesn\u2019t punish by his own hand, but by means of the angels.<\/p>\n

Then are they executioners, the angels? God forbid! I\u2019m not saying that. But they are avenging powers. When Sodom was destroyed, the whole thing was done by them as the instruments. When the judgments in Egypt were inflicted, it was through them. \u2013St. John Chrysostom, Homily 43 on the Acts of the Apostles<\/em><\/p>\n

IN GOD\u2019S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pity is a virtue woven into our nature by God, and it is a reflection of divine mercy. Do I characteristically show this virtue? Do I reflect God\u2019s judgment\u2014as faithfully as the angels do\u2014in my own judgments?<\/p>\n

CLOSING PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Guardian Angel, help me to judge wisely \u00a0the things of this earth, so that with you <\/em>I may enjoy the things of Heaven.<\/em><\/p>\n

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
\nRemember 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.<\/p>\n