Sin of the Angels

From The Spiritual Exercises:

First Point. The first Point will be to bring the memory on the First Sin, which was that of the Angels, and then to bring the intellect on the same, discussing it; then the will, wanting to recall and understand all this in order to make me more ashamed and confound me more, bringing into comparison with the one sin of the Angels my so many sins, and reflecting, while they for one sin were cast into Hell, how often I have deserved it for so many.
I say to bring to memory the sin of the Angels, how they, being created in grace, not wanting to help themselves with their liberty to reverence and obey their Creator and Lord, coming to pride, were changed from grace to malice, and hurled from Heaven to Hell; and so then to discuss more in detail with the intellect: and then to move the feelings more with the will.

Lesson: The sin of the angels has been traditionally spoken of as a sin of rebellion. “I will not serve” is the statement attributed to satan and the other fallen angels. “I will not serve God or obey His will.” Recall also the statement that the serpent spoke to Adam and Eve in the Garden when he seduced them to act in disobedience to God by eating the forbidden fruit. The serpent convinced them to eat the forbidden fruit by saying, “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5, RSV-CE). This line also reveals the hidden first sin of the angels. They wanted to be gods. They did not want to serve the one God. They did not want to obey. They rebelled. They wanted to be the masters of their own destiny rather than to humbly submit to the plan of God for their lives.

The truth, however, is that there is only one God and this one God has a perfect plan for your life. Only by total obedience and submission to God’s will are you able to enter into union with the one God and live in harmony with Him.

Reflection: Reflect upon any inner tendency you have to imitate these fallen angels. Do you want to be your own god? Do you want to do things your way? (Silent Reflection)

Are you able to submit and surrender to the one God, entrusting yourself to His plan and purpose for your life? Can you let go of pride and your own desire for control of all things? (Silent Reflection)

It takes great trust, humility and honesty to face your one, loving and merciful God and to freely make Him the God of your life. Prayerfully say to God, “I will serve You, O Lord! I choose You as my God, and I choose Your will as my will. Everything else I surrender over to You. I submit to You without reserve in humble and total obedience.” (Silent Reflection)

Ponder in silence the contrast of the words of the fallen angels (“I will not serve”) with the words God wants to hear from you—“I will serve You with every fiber of my being.” (Silent Reflection)

Introduction to Foundational Meditations

Notebook Exercises

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