Chloe: Hi Joan, Thanks for being here today. How does the idea of angels fit with the idea of the Holy Spirit as God’s abiding presence among us? Does the presence of angels diminish the significance of the Holy Spirit in any way? I appreciate having a place to ask this question! Thanks again.
Joan: Hi Chloe, No, the Blessed Trinity really doesn’t conflict at all with angels. Angels aren’t God, and don’t have God’s power. We could get along without them, but try getting along without God! People often wonder why God made angels, and I really don’t know. I guess, just as there are millions of varieties of plants, for example, God is an abundant God. We could have gotten along with two or three varieties, but He gives us tons. And the same with angels. Life is so much richer knowing that angels are around.
More than one person has suggested that to some, God may seem too exalted to relate to, so angels are a good substitute. I don’t think anything can be substituted for God, however I do see what these people mean. Perhaps an angel is more approachable.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Lucia 10.02.08 at 4:16 pm
I personally see angels as God’s servants, with intellect and free will just as we do but with a completely different mission. Angels serve God in their particular charisms just as we do. Angels are guardians, hosts, archangels, warriors, witnesses to God, etc. just as we humans are priests/consecrated/laypeople, etc.–but we all end up in the same place when we do our jobs right.
All things give glory to God. Angels are servants of God just as we are, but unbound by bodies and earth. However, there is one other thing we humans have that angels don’t: the honor and dignity that can only be given by God becoming one of us!
So from my viewpoint, angels aren’t really synonymous with/contradictory to the Holy Spirit being God’s abiding presence among us. The two are pretty much irrelevant, to me at least.
Joan Wester Anderson 10.02.08 at 6:24 pm
Lucia well said! To all of you, thanks for a very interesting day! Please sign up to receive a new story every other week, so I can keep in touch with you. http://www.joanwanderson.com J