And miles to go

The Devil's Influence

A former student of mine, now an ordained priest, called me on the first Sunday of Lent to say that he had made reference that morning in his homily to something I said to him and his classmates at their orientation to the seminary.  What I had said was: “Gentlemen, the devil doesn’t want you to get ordained.”

Being reminded of the quote, I did recall that past moment. With all my heart, I believed what I said then was true and I believe it today.

We do not very often speak of the devil in our post modern culture. Perhaps because of cartoon portrayals of red-masked creatures with horns and pitchfork, many have come to view the existence of the devil as a mythological creation, having no basis in reality.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church assures us that Satan, or the Evil One, is not an abstraction but a real personal force (2851). The origin of the word “devil” is one who “throws himself across” God’s plan and the work of salvation accomplished in Jesus Christ. The devil’s aim is to seduce men and women into wanting to “be like God,” but not in accordance with God (398). As a result of Original Sin, the devil acquired a certain domination over humanity, even though human freedom persists. Yet, to ignore the wound that he caused to our human nature is both naïve and perilous (407).

Knowing all this, I was pleased to see Father Ron Rolheiser, OMI, devote one of his recent syndicated columns to the influence of Stan. Father is recognized widely as having a great deal of experience and expertise in the area of spiritual direction and, thus, his comments enjoy a certain credibility.

In any event, he writes:

“Satan, scripture tells us, is the prince of jealousy, bitterness, paranoia, obsession and lies. Few things in life torment us and beat us up as badly as these. They lurk in every dark corner, come out from under our beds at night, generally threaten us, darken our days, dampen our joys, and make us anxious as to what might lie around the corner.”

Some examples he uses are: playing and replaying old conversations or arguments in our heads, being obsessed with something we can’t have, the jealousy we have of others over our own disappointments in marriage, careers or even our physical appearance. Whenever we recognize being so “obsessed” (the new name for being “possessed”), Rolheiser recommends we say, “Get behind me, Satan.”

St. Ignatius of Loyola wrote that ultimately in life’s battles there is only one of two banners under which we stand and fight: the banner of Jesus Christ or the banner of Satan, the Evil One. I think it is quite helpful to know that, even in my everyday decisions, the choice comes down to those two sides: good or evil, virtue or vice, right or wrong.

But speaking of such options raises a further reflection: is it possible for the contemporary person to believe in sin? Denying the reality of sin or the guilt that points to sin has become an American pastime. Believing in sin has become countercultural. Oh, the reality of crime, violence, road rage, sexual promiscuity, infidelity and deceit are all around us. One only has to pick up the morning paper or turn on the evening news to be reminded. But applying personal responsibility for such actions on the part of the individual is so often hard to admit. After all, I’m really a good person, am I not? Don’t I mean well? Maybe the devil made me say or do that - it wasn’t the “real” me!

Father John Kavanaugh, S.J., writing in America (2-28-05, p. 6), comments:

“Rather than admit sin, the best we seem to be able to do is admit that we “made a mistake.” Better yet, “A mistake was made.” The passive voice is always more palatable. The most common confession we hear these days is this: “If anyone was offended, I’m sorry they feel that way.”

All of this, I believe, is also the work of the devil because he truly succeeds if we can’t even recognize our adversary or even admit his existence and, even more so, if we are incapable of acknowledging his influence on us after we have committed a sinful deed.

Some may think it inappropriate to write about Satan and sin during this glorious season of Easter. But the euphoria of our knowing that Jesus is truly risen cannot be based on religious naiveté. Satan did not want Jesus to fulfill his Father’s will and he certainly will try to dissuade you or me from doing the same. Jesus’ resurrection was a terrible defeat for the forces of evil. And every time we conquer temptation, that defeat is compounded. The power of the Resurrection was given to us in the saving waters of Baptism.

Harnessing that power to make daily moral choices for good is the surest way to experience Easter joy.

God love you!

(April, 2005)

Falta Mucho por Recorrer

En nuestra cultura moderna no frecuentamos hablar del diablo. Quizás debido a las caracteristicas en caricaturas con cuernos y horquilla, muchos han visto la existencia del diablo como una creación mitológica, que no tiene ninguna base en la vida real.

El catesismo de la Iglesia católica nos asegura que satanas no es una abstracción si no una verdadera fuerza personal (2851). El origen de la palabra "diablo" es "cuando uno se interpone ante" sus planes y el trabajo de salvación logrado en Jesucristo. La meta del diablo es tentar a hombres y mujeres en querer "ser como Dios," pero no estar en acorde con él (398). Como resultado del pecado original, el diablo adquirió cierta autoridad sobre la humanidad, aunque la libertad humana aún perdura. A pesar de eso, el ignorar las heridas que él ha causado a nuestra humanidad es ingenuo y arriesgado. (407).

Sabiendo todo esto, me dió gusto ver a Padre Ron Rolheiser, OMI, ya que en su  último reporte escribe sobre a la influencia de satanas. Padre Rolheiser es reconocido extensamente por su experiencia y talento en el area de consejeria espíritual y por lo ende sus comentarios gozan de cierta credibilidad.

En cualquier acontecimiento, él escribe:

"Las escrituras dicen que satanas es el principe de la envidia, del resentimiento, la paranoia, la obsesión y la mentira. En la vida pocas cosas nos atormentan y nos vencen tan mal como esos. Ellos se esconden en cada esquina, por las noches salen de debajo de nuestras camas, generalmente nos amenazan y entristecen nuestros días, desaniman nuestras alegrias y nos dejan angustiados en lo que pueda pasar." 

Aqui algunos ejemplos que él utiliza: repitiendo viejas conversaciones o discusiones en nuestras mentes, estar obsesionado con algo que no podemos poseer, los celos que tenemos por otros sobre nuestras desepsiones matrimoniales, profesion o de nuestra apariencia física. Siempre que reconozcamos estar obsesinados (nuevo nombre cuando se es poseido), Padre Rolheiser recomienda decir, "satanas, alejate."

San Ignacio de Loyola escribió que en las batallas de la vida hay una de dos pancartas en la que nos mantenemos en pie y luchamos: la pancarta de Jesucristo o la de satanas. Yo creo que es absolutamente provechoso saber eso, incluso en mis decisiones diarias elegimos una de las dos opciones: lo bueno o lo malo, la virtud o el vicio, lo correcto o lo incorrecto.

Algunos pensaran que no es apropiado escribir de satanas y el pecado durante esta temporada gloriosa de la Cuaresma. Pero la euforia de saber que Jesus ha resucitado no se puede basar en algo religioso.  Satanas no quizo que Jesus cumpla con los mandatos de su Padre y el va a tratar de hacer todo lo imposible para que ustedes y yo caigamos en la tentacion. La resurrección de Jesús fue una terrible derrota para la fuerza del mal y cada vez que no caigamos en tentacion, esa derrota se multiplica. Ese poder de la resurrección nos fue dada en las aguas bautismales. Diariamente  debemos aprovechar esa energia para tomar buenas decisiones morales siendo la mejor manera de experimentar estas Pascuas.

April 2005