This saying seems to give the devil credit for the brokenness of our world. To give him some kind of reign and sovereignty over our sinful nature; the world around us and political power. For it is true that the devil tempts us and distracts us from our Divine calling (eternal life) and enters into the worldly things that bring fear or acceptance of the lesser things of God’s plans. While God permits his effect on the world, there is a more important reason that we should give the devil his due. If we recognize his desire to steal us from God’s love and to destroy our hope, then we also can see the overwhelming power of God’s desire to clothe us in Mercy and to nurture us into perfection.
My greatest fear is that if we deny the intention of Satan to terrorize us with fear of the loss of our worldly ways, then we will not be able to see God’s hand in the lessons that come from this tragedy.
Jesus said lay down your life and pick up your cross and follow me. The first part of the journey is a tough call of self-sacrifice and that is what we call Lent. The second part of the journey is called acceptance of the Father’s will and that is what we call Holy Week. The third part is the victory over what was our worldly and selfish life into a new a perfect existence and that is what we call the resurrection!
So, give the Devil his due, which all in all just reminds us how much more important it is to know that we are covered in the life of Christ…which is Mercy. So, remember, Saints were forged in times like this…so let us all become saints!!
“JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU.”
Father John