GRACE NOTES: Guardians of the cosmos

By SISTER ANNE MARIE WALSH, SOLT
Grace Notes Columnist
 
If you had allies who were superior to you on a number of different levels, and you were in a longstanding battle that you were losing, would you not engage your allies? Would you not implore them to take up your cause against your enemy?

There are numerous modern-day fantasies that draw on this theme, as evidenced by the superhero films that frequently appear in theaters. You see this common theme of creatures or beings who, at times, may even seem like misfits in the universe, coming to the aid of threatened humanity with powers that surpass ordinary human capacity. The characters may not be real, but the fight certainly is. And so is the need for help that comes from beyond the ordinary.

What is so fascinating is that we actually have such allies. The scope of their power and responsibilities is far beyond what we normally think. They, in fact, have intelligence and power far superior to our own, and in many ways rule realms that keep the universe moving so that it unfolds according to God’s will and his divine purposes.

These allies, of course, are called angels. They are spiritual beings who generally do not manifest in visible forms unless necessary. In fact, one of the reasons they remain hidden so much is that if we saw them as they truly are, we would be tempted to worship them. 
The angels are many, hierarchically arranged into nine choirs according to their different callings and responsibilities. They are, from the highest realms to the lower realms:  the seraphim, also called “the burning ones” who attend God’s throne and constantly praise Him with the highest love, the cherubim, whose name means “fullness of wisdom,” and the thrones, who represent God’s power and authority.

The second hierarchy or set of three choirs is the dominions, the virtues, and the powers. The dominions direct the lower choirs of angels in the execution of God’s plans. the virtues are sometimes known as guardians of the cosmos because they oversee the natural and cosmic forces, the movement of heavenly bodies, and such things as the weather. The powers defend the cosmos and, more specifically, humanity, from evil forces, threats, and influence, and work to maintain cosmic order.

The last three choirs of angels, or the third hierarchy, are those angels that are most directly involved with human beings and their affairs. This hierarchy includes the principalities who oversee nations, cities, and communities. They assist earthly leaders and protect and guide institutions and/or groups according to God’s plans.

The archangels are messengers who convey significant messages from God to humanity. Three of them are named in Scripture - Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. And they are known, respectively, as “defender,” “messenger of the Incarnation,” and “healer.”
The final choir, the angels, also known as the guardian angels, are the closest and most directly involved with humans. They watch over individuals, protecting, guiding, and communicating God’s love and grace.

Evil and the malice of evil can be overwhelming, and our experience can be one of helplessness in the face of it. It can seem so much more powerful and prosperous than the “handful” of people we see, struggling to be good and remain faithful to the Lord in the midst of fierce hostility and opposition. The words of St. Paul, that we fight not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, verify this feeling of powerlessness and weakness.

We must remember that the fallen angels, angels who followed Lucifer in his rebellion against God, come from these choirs also, and move to counteract the good God intends in these realms. This is, properly speaking, the spiritual warfare that goes on all around us, mostly without our awareness, but real and terrifying, nonetheless.

If you find yourself praying for our country, for certain nations and leaders, why not call on the principalities? If you are concerned about threatening weather, or even “outer-space” movements of bodies, why not pray to the virtues? If you are aware of the spiritual warfare going on behind the scenes, behind major developments for good and evil, why not engage the powers? 

Ours should be the story from 2Kings 6. The king of Aram, in his fight against Israel, is trying to capture the prophet Elisha, who is in the city of Dothan. Elisha’s servant panics when he wakes up and sees they have been surrounded overnight and are now overwhelmingly outnumbered by the enemy. But Elisha is calm and prays that God show his servant the invisible reality present so he can be assured of the victory God will win for them.

His servant’s eyes are opened, and he sees the hills filled with horses and chariots of fire, the heavenly host vastly outnumbering the enemy. These heavenly warriors will turn the tide in the fight for God’s people, against both visible and invisible forces. This is no small comfort. It is one the early Christians were more than mindful of, and an awareness we need more than ever today. All you holy angels pray for us and protect us! May God’s holy will be fulfilled!

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