SPIRITUAL BATTLES
LK 4:31-37 Homily of Rev. Fr. Joachim Mudd FI airmaria.com/ satan is the malign, clever seducer who knows how to make his way into us through the senses, the imagination and the libido, through utopian logic, or through disordered social contacts in the give and take of our activities, so that he can bring about in us deviations that are all the more harmful because they seem to conform to our physical or mental makeup, or to our profound, instinctive aspirations. He is destroying the modern world through every sin imaginable. The world has become obsessed with sexual sins telling God "non servium - I will not serve." Because of this total rejection of God, we are now engaged in a gigantic battle against evil. we need to get back to the regular use of the Sacrament of Confession and frequent reception of Holy Communion. These are the two greatest weapons we have against satan. |
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If there is peace and happiness in family life, it is going to be more difficult for satan to attack our homes... we have to be very careful about the use of the TV and internet, satan uses them to fill the hearts of men and women with blasphemy, pornography, profanity, lying, revenge, and a whole lists of other sins and vices just too numerous to mention.
we must be completely convinced of our ultimate victory, the ultimate victory of our Savior Jesus Christ and the triumph of Mary's Immaculate Heart. |
In today's Gospel passage from St. Luke, we see how Jesus has authority over demons. When we consider the mystery of evil in our modern world, we are reminded that satan and his demons do exist. However, the greatest lie satan has sold our contemporary society is that he does not exist. Pope Paul VI speaking to a general audience in 1992 gave an accurate description about satan's works. He said that: "So we know that this dark disturbing being exists and is still at work with his treacherous cunning. He is the hidden enemy who sows error and misfortune in human history. It is worth recalling the revealing Gospel parable of the good seed and the cockle, for it synthesizes and explains the lack of logic that seems to preside over our contradictory experiences: 'An enemy has done this'. He is 'a murderer from the beginning,... and the father of lies,' as Christ defines him. He undermines man's moral equilibrium with his sophistry. He is the malign, clever seducer who knows how to make his way into us through the senses, the imagination and the libido, through utopian logic, or through disordered social contacts in the give and take of our activities, so that he can bring about in us deviations that are all the more harmful because they seem to conform to our physical or mental makeup, or to our profound, instinctive aspirations." Satan is destroying the modern world through every sin imaginable. The world has become obsessed with sexual sins telling God "non servium - I will not serve." Because of this total rejection of God, we are now engaged in a gigantic battle against evil. So what are the weapons that we must choose. First of all, we must be completely convinced of our ultimate victory, the ultimate victory of our Savior Jesus Christ and the triumph of Mary's Immaculate Heart.Secondly, we must persevere, we can not allow discouragement to overcome us. Thirdly, we have to stay close to Jesus and Mary, left to our own resources our fallen human nature can not resist the evil. Daily structured moments of prayer are essential to survive just as our physical immune system needs to be well nourished in order to resist disease, so to is our spiritual immune system need daily sustenance: daily Mass, daily meditation, recitation of the Rosary, frequent Confession, and the solitude of the Eucharistic Adoration are necessary Spiritual exercises that provide health and strength to anyone who desires to continue fighting the good fight.Fourthly, family life needs to be strong, getting back to basics: order, discipline, having dinner together, limiting all crazy activities, building up a healthy emotional life by building up a healthy social life. If there is peace and happiness in family life, it is going to be more difficult for satan to attack our homes. Fifth one, we have to be very careful about the use of the TV and internet, satan uses them to fill the hearts of men and women with blasphemy, pornography, profanity, lying, revenge, and a whole lists of other sins and vices just too numerous to mention. We need to begin with the most important, we need to get back to the regular use of the Sacrament of Confession and frequent reception of Holy Communion. These are the two greatest weapons we have against satan. He has convinced the world that he does not exist and that there is no sin. He continues to dupe the majority of people into believing that everyone is going to heaven. Let us just recall then when the Blessed Mother appeared to the three children at Fatima in 1917, they were allowed to see a vision of thousands of poor souls falling into hell. So let us heed our Lady's plea for prayer and sacrifices so that She can rescue the poor souls from eternal agony. Just as our Lord had pity this man in today's Gospel, let us do likewise.