Ministering Spirits

An angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

Luke 22:43

The phrase “there for me” has entered the cultural conversation in recent years, appearing everywhere: song titles, tributes, testimonies, eulogies, and the like. Rarely is the phrase illustrated by specific examples, but readers and listeners generally get the idea: one person steps in to bring aid, comfort, advice, or resources to another person in need.

While it may sound trite to apply it to them, we could say that the angels were always there for Jesus. At least twice in His life that we know of, in moments of weakness and stress, one or more angels appeared to support Jesus: following His forty days of fasting and temptation in the wilderness, “angels came and ministered to Him” (Matthew 4:11), and during the hours of His agony in the garden of Gethsemane an angel appeared to strengthen Him (Luke 22:43). While it is hard for us to imagine Jesus needing ministry or strengthening, in His humanity He suffered the same tests we do, yet He was without sin (Hebrews 4:15; 5:8).

Fortunately, angels are there for us as well, “sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14).

Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.

ST. BASIL THE GREAT