XXV, November/December 2019

"The law as transmitted by angels." (Acts 7:53)

Dear Brothers in the Priesthood!

It is astonishing, how in our time the confrontations of opposite opinions and ideas are daily increasing. Could it be due to the growing electronic communication, the quick exchange of information, or because of its cold and impersonal character… Closer to the truth is the fact that these means facilitate the propagation of misinformation and even outright lies. Hence, we need to recognize a serious spiritual challenge. On the one side, let us conduct ourselves innocently before the eyes of God, our eternal judgment. On the other side, recall the angels in the confrontation of Stephen with "the members of the Sanhedrin" and "the high priest" and the libertines who falsely accused him (Acts 6:15; 7:1); this sheds some light on the topic.

First, Saint Stephen recalls some interventions of angels in the Old Testament (which we already considered in previous letters (cf. Jan. 1997; Jan. 1998) – "An angel appeared to him (Moses) in the desert near Mount Sinai in the flame of a burning bush," (Acts 7,30; cf. v. 35) and again: "It was he who, in the assembly in the desert, was with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our ancestors, and" from him "he received living utterances to hand on to us" (Acts 7,38). To this important fact St. Stephen referred in his reply to the high priest:

You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it. (Acts 7:51-53)

The opposition reaches an extreme; those "opposed to the Holy Spirit," – were "infuriated when they heard this, and ground their teeth at him… All the members of the council shouted out and stopped their ears with their hands; then they made a concerted rush at him" (Acts 7:54 and 57). And St. Stephen, "filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand." And he declared this to all present: "'Look! I can see heaven thrown open,' he said, 'and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.'" (Acts 7:55-56)

"The law transmitted by angels"

There is first the objective question: how do we know what the will of God is? "Up to the time of John (the Baptist) it was the Law and the Prophets," (Lk 16:16) and the Law "was promulgated by angels at the hand of a mediator" (Gal 3:19).

St. Thomas Aquinas supports the mediation of the law of the Old Testament by the Angels and refers to this text St. Paul`s affirmation in Gal 3:19, citing at the same time the authority of St. Augustine and St. Gregory (cf. Summa Theologiae, p. I-II, q. 98, a. 3). He reiterates the general rule observed by Dionysius, namely, that "the gifts of God should be brought to men by means of the angels" (Cael. Hier. IV). He himself adds this reflection: "The Old Law was imperfect," and it should dispose men for the perfect "which was to come through Christ". Now, "those things which dispose to the ultimate perfection are effected by him through his subordinates", so that "it was fitting that the perfect law of the New Testament should be given by the incarnate God immediately; but that the Old Law should be given to men by the ministers of God, i.e. by the angels," just as is said in the letter to the Hebrews: Now, in the New Testament "God . . . has spoken to us by His Son,… whereas in the Old Testament 'the word was spoken by angels'." (Heb. 1:1; 2:2).

We Christians know by faith that God is the Creator of the entire world. We understand that the natural law, the order according to which God organized and established this world, is an expression of his will. We believe too that everything that happens in creation, occurs under his provident "eye", which oversees all with fatherly Love (cf. Mt 10:26-31). At the fitting time, this natural moral order was expressed in the written text of the Ten Commandments, in words, namely, that are more easily understood by men. The Torah (the Law) not only passes on the letter of the Decalogue but expounds upon its application as the foundation of the covenant. When Jesus came, it was not "to abolish the Law … but to complete" (Mt 5:17) it and to explain its meaning deeper: "But I say this to you" (Mt 5:28 etc.). He instructed us not just by words, but also by his life, for example by a slave service, the washing of the apostles' feet, and by all that followed afterwards, his redemptive suffering and death. "I have given you an example … so that you may copy what I have done to you." (Jn 13:15) Christ's teaching and his life is God's word and will ever since to us. And the good angels remind us about this: "Go … as he told you.'" (Mk 16:7)

The comprehension of the Will of God

The angels continue to act as admonishers in the voice of conscience, affording us with the interior light of Christ to properly interpret GOD`s will. This basic mission they already carried out in the OT; God spoke to Moses with insistence: "I am sending an angel … revere him and obey what he says. Do not defy him…" (Ex 23:20-22). Notwithstanding the voice of conscience, "the members of the Sanhedrin" had the Ten Commandments, they had heard or seen the teaching and testimony of Jesus and still confronted and condemned Stephen. Is this attitude not reminiscent of the "rich man who used to dress in purple … died, he ended up in the "torment in Hades … cried out for pity for his brothers." But Abraham`s answer was: "If they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead" (Lk 16:19-31).

By the times of Stephen's trial, Jesus had already gloriously risen from the dead. And yet, they were not willing to listen. For those who have good will, even a little witness joined to grace suffices for salvation; where there is bad will, condemnation awaits them. To this attitude, St. Stephen referred when he accused his opponents that they not only "oppose(d)" the holy angels, but even more "the holy Spirit" (whom the angels serve). And the angels do not just bring a brittle knowledge of the law of God…, but also helps to understand it with the light and grace of God.

It is important for us priests in our own prophetic ministry and as servants of Christ to recognize that this angelic assistance if offered in an even more copious measure. Even with our most zealous efforts, in the final analysis, we can only propose the will of God to our listeners, not impose it (cf. St. John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio, 39). In this way, we may often need to go the way of Jesus, the Way of the Cross, the way of expiatory suffering so that "by all means" we can help "save some," as St. Paul hoped, besides having "become all things to all men" (1 Cor 9:22). Joined in collaboration with the angels, the chances of salvation are greater; this is surely why God sends them!

As the Angels – so we Priests

Once more, we come to the point where we can see the presence of the holy angels in our priestly life. The gift they are to us should find ever-stronger openness, attentiveness and practical collaboration by calling upon their help. We have to make ourselves aware that they stand close by with deep respect before the priest, and therefore wait to be called forward. We are well aware of the strong words of St. Paul to Timothy: "Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient…" (2 Tim 4:2-4)

While everyone is free, we still have our urgent mission to fulfill and cannot excuse us, as God made very clear to the Prophet Ezekiel: "The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, you shall warn them for me. If … you do not warn him … I will hold you responsible for his death." (Ez 3:17f). Therefore let us understand our priestly ministry in terms of being 'fellow servants' along side the angels and be assured that their deepest desire is to assist us.

Just as they were sent to transmit the will of God, so too are we sent so that by our testimony people`s heart may be touched and their minds enlightened.

As they were sent to explain the will of God to Moses, to the prophet Zechariah etc., so are we to open to men's minds to divine revelation by solid teachings and homilies.

As the angels are sent to recall God's will in man's conscience, so are we called to be faithful interpreter of the Commandments and the Church teaching both openly and in the Confessional;

And as the angels are sent to defend God's will like St. Gabriel did towards Zacharias (cf. Lk 1:19-20), that is, like advocates of God's rights and honor, of his will and Dignity, so too are we sent. In hours when we have to stand up for God may we be fully aware that we are not alone: we can invoke these great defenders, the holy spirits who can influence the thoughts and heart of people.

As they are always sent by God and come from his presence in the heavenly glory, so are we supposed to be united first with God through prayer and adoration and from there are we sent out: "I consecrate myself for them… I wish that where I am they also may be with me." (Jn 17:19.24).

We can count on all these truths because the angel assured St. John – and with him us: "I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brothers the prophets and of those who keep the message of this book" (Ap 22:9).

Dear Brothers in the Priesthood!

We live in times of confrontation as we said at the beginning. But the example of St. Stephen tells us that this is not a strange, new situation. As St. Stephen saw the heavens open, so we should recall, faithful in prayer, with gratitude, daily the unmerited fact of our vocation. We are "taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins" (Hb 5:1). We stand for mankind and the entire world before God. And this means that we should also come to them – from God and bring them salvation from him. This is the essential meaning of our priestly existence, and precisely in this the ascending and descending holy Angels are our coworkers, helpers, supporters and strength. May they help each one of us, daily, and especially when we are called, like St. Stephen, before the tribunals.

Fr. Titus Kieninger, ORC

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