“The
devil’s influence”
by Bishop John C. Nienstedt
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
Satan. 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
“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
Por el obispo John C. Nienstedt
En nuestra
cultura moderna no frecuentamos hablar
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
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,
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.