The story throws up interesting questions. Firstly, why should angels meddle in the affairs of humans? If we assume that angels do exist and that they have supernatural powers, are they supposed to exercise those powers in pursuit of what they consider to be good and correct behaviour? Are people to be punished for every misdemeanor and rewarded for every good deed done?
In the instant story, why have the angels taken offence to not being treated well by a rich man? Could not the family have been having a bad day? Were they inherently evil? Do you punish every person likewise or do you leave it to the whims and fancies of passing angels?
I personally think the actions of the angels were rather strange. By hiding the gold, the rich man lost nothing. As he was not aware of the hidden gold, its theoretical loss is of no concern. But more importantly, it was the supposedly good poor man who was hit hardest for doing good. Why was his cow killed in lieu of his wife? Why not a stray dog or mouse? And what prevented the angel from shifting the gold from the rich man’s basement to the poor man’s hut? The tale is a lot of poppycock, if you ask me.
Perhaps this is an attempt to keep the poor in their place by insinuating that their lot has been pre ordained. An old Christian Hymn brings this out rather forcefully… ( From the Hymn ‘All things Bright and Beautiful’).
The rich man in his castle
The poor man at his gate
He made them high and lowly
Each to his own estate.
It serves the interest of certain classes to see that the current social order is perpetuated, much like the caste system in India. But things will change, despite the attempts by some to rope in the angels on their side. And yes, things aren’t always what they seem.
Two traveling angels
Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, 'Things aren't always what they seem.'
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night’s rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.
The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.
'Things aren't always what they seem,' the older angel replied. 'When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall... Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead.
Things aren’t always what they seem.' [][]
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