| V. Choir | 24 July |
|---|---|
| Power of examinations and admissions | Christina, Sieglinde |
The angels from the choir section of the Sealed Powers are not just bearers of God’s will over the soul of man and into creation, they are also bearers of divine opposites that are incomprehensible to us. Such an opposition confronts us in the intercessor of this day:
Saint Philoim,
the angel of trials and approvals. He is one of the seven Powers of God. And isn’t the testing and approval of God such a power… and yet love at the same time? Do we see God’s trials and examinations as God’s love? Probably only in rare and mostly mild cases… otherwise we wring our hands and plead without ceasing to avert this evil. We blame everything on the malice of the Devil and on the treachery of fate, and then we mutiny and quarrel with God.
Does God ever quarrel with us when we offend Him, or when we make Him wait and wait in the Tabernacle? God is the kindest, the most long-suffering and the most merciful of course—and we are wilful, superficial and unconcerned children.
Despite our wretchedness and brokenness, however, we should learn to understand God. That is why we must first of all believe in the love and infinite wisdom of God. We must hope in the mercy and help of God. We must love Him Who has gone before us with the Cross and suffering, so that we may never be alone… and Who has suffered the most bitter abandonment by God for us, so that we may never be abandoned. If we believe, hope and love in this way, then we will see the trials that God imposes on us as our cross in following Christ with different eyes.
The cherub, who carries the clear view of God (Saint Malachiel), stands above Saint Philoim, the angel of trials and approvals, on the heavenly ladder to God. We must make use of this power: not only to carry God’s trials and approvals as a call to faithfulness, obedience, sacrifice, contemplation and repentance and as a greeting of love from the Cross, but also to deepen our clear vision of the divine will, God’s love and the wisest divine intention in each individual case during this time. After all, next to Saint Philoim in his choir are the Seven Brothers of the Soul, who are to fulfil God’s will for the soul’s salvation, provided it consents and surrenders to God’s guidance.
Our whole life on earth is a great testing day for our soul. How would a candidate be able to pass a test if he did not want to be tested? So we too are tested for our salvation, and the more we are tested, the more glorious a crown is prepared for us, which we can attain according to God’s will.
Prayer: O Lord, through this Angel of Yours, Saint Philoim, who hands us the Cup and the Cross, let us recognise that everything You do for us is love and that, if we love You, everything is for our good: for our own bliss. Amen.