Be ready with God's weaponry; devil is real, pope says30th Oct 2014
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christian life is a constant battle against the devil, who is not the stuff of legend, but really exists, Pope Francis said in a morning homily.
Battling the devil will not be easy because the evil one's traps and temptations are many, and "the devil is not tossing flowers at us," but "flaming arrows" aimed to kill, the pope said Oct. 30 during his morning Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae where he lives.There are three "enemies of Christian life," Pope Francis said: "The devil, the world and the flesh," in other words, the carnal passions that are "the wounds of original sin."
Pope Francis is pictured during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 29. (CNS/Paul Haring)
"But this generation, and many others, made people think that the devil was a myth, a character, an idea, the concept of evil," the pope said, according to Vatican Radio.
"The devil exists and we have to fight against him. Paul says so -- I'm not the one saying it. The word of God says it," the pope said, referring to the day's reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians (6:10-20), which calls on believers to "stand firm against the tactics of the devil."
Even believers "are not too convinced" the devil exists, he said, or else "we are a bit lazy in the fight and we let ourselves be led by our passions, by some temptations. It's because we are sinners -- all of us."
"However, do not be discouraged. (Have) courage and strength because the Lord is with us" and supplies all that is needed in battle, the pope said.
Because the devil is "the father of lies, the father of deception," Christians must arm themselves with the "armor of God -- the truth."
St. Paul says Christians must be "girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace," the pope noted.
People need to "hold faith as a shield" and take up "the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," he added, and they must pray all the time.
"You cannot be Christians without working continuously at being righteous. You can't," the pope said.
People need faith to go forward and they need to know "that it is God defending us, to resist the devil's temptations," he said.
"Is that clear? You cannot think of a spiritual life, a Christian life," he said, "without resisting temptation, without fighting against the devil, without putting on this amour of God, who gives us strength and defends us."
"Christian life is a battle, a very beautiful battle because when the Lord wins at every step of our life, he gives us a joy, a great happiness, that joy that the Lord has won in us" with his free gift of salvation, the pope said.
Faith to pursue the seemingly impossible
Faith brings things within the range of possibility.
An impossible attitude may say, “no more beyond,” but faith says, “there is more beyond”.
Sometimes we may feel that we have come to the end of the rope,
but it is never the end of our hope.
Sometimes we may feel that we have come to the end of the rope,
but it is never the end of our hope.
Until 1954, running a mile under 4 minutes was considered impossible.
But that year, Mr. Roger Bannister broke the barrier.
But that year, Mr. Roger Bannister broke the barrier.
A year later in 1955, 37 others succeeded, and over 300 in the proceeding year.
Now the figure has shot upto 20,000!
Now the figure has shot upto 20,000!
Roosevelt, the former President of USA was confined to a wheel chair;
Milton was blind; and Beethoven was deaf.
Milton was blind; and Beethoven was deaf.
But they showed us how to triumph over limitations.
A victim of arthritis, Hulda Crooks decided to learn mountaineering
on her 70th birthday and after rigorous exercise,
was able to climb Mount Fuji at the age of 95!
on her 70th birthday and after rigorous exercise,
was able to climb Mount Fuji at the age of 95!
Yes, all of us can definitely make some difference
with each day that the Lord gives us.
with each day that the Lord gives us.
Of course, we should not assume that things will take care of themselves
or will be taken care of by others.
It takes time and practice to develop new habits.
or will be taken care of by others.
It takes time and practice to develop new habits.
Booker T. Washington said:
“success is to be measured not so much by the position
that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles
one has to overcome while trying to succeed.”
“success is to be measured not so much by the position
that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles
one has to overcome while trying to succeed.”
It is said that strong faith leads to good attitude,
while vibrant faith sustains a person in times of crisis.
while vibrant faith sustains a person in times of crisis.
This means, we don’t have to define life by limitations,
but fill our thoughts with things that we CAN do.
but fill our thoughts with things that we CAN do.
Suppose, we draw a line and write above it,
the things that we believe we can’t do,
and below it, the things we believe we can.
the things that we believe we can’t do,
and below it, the things we believe we can.
Such a line can be defined as the ‘line of limitation’.
If we desire to reach seemingly impossible goals, we have to raise the line.
If we desire to reach seemingly impossible goals, we have to raise the line.
Often our tendency is to bring down the line since we are reluctant to try.
When we try to do,
that which we once thought we cannot accomplish, the line is invariably raised.
that which we once thought we cannot accomplish, the line is invariably raised.
We may also be tempted to bring down the line of limitation
when we face unexpected setbacks and failures.
However, we should persistently try to raise the line against all odds.
when we face unexpected setbacks and failures.
However, we should persistently try to raise the line against all odds.
We must not allow frustration to rip us apart.
Failure is not a sign of weakness;
It brings opportunities to devise new ways of succeeding.
Failure is not a sign of weakness;
It brings opportunities to devise new ways of succeeding.
“Our focus must be on the goal, not on the failures “
We should put our mind around the limitless power of God.
Exaggerating difficulties affect the utilization of our talents.
We must focus on what we can do with what we have at hand.
We should put our mind around the limitless power of God.
Exaggerating difficulties affect the utilization of our talents.
We must focus on what we can do with what we have at hand.
The belief that we can’t do something is merely a rationalization for our unwillingness to take the risk.
Instead, we must live with positive expectation.
We will inevitably attract what we focus our mind on.
We will inevitably attract what we focus our mind on.
” Small steps of change in our attitude
can make a big impact in the long run “.
can make a big impact in the long run “.
Thorough preparation for an upcoming event will enhance our capacity
to overcome fear and other obstacles.
to overcome fear and other obstacles.
We identify our strengths and maximize it.
We may have difficulties during the initial attempts.
But we will find that after awhile, they fade out.
We may have difficulties during the initial attempts.
But we will find that after awhile, they fade out.
” When God becomes ‘greater’,
the problems will appear to be smaller in comparison “.
the problems will appear to be smaller in comparison “.
Therefore, we need to learn to take a brief look at the problems and
a long look at the One Who is able to help us triumph over.
a long look at the One Who is able to help us triumph over.
It is said that faith is to see the invisible.
If we are prepared to see the invisible (with the eyes of faith),
we will be able to make possible, the seemingly impossible.
we will be able to make possible, the seemingly impossible.
- Dr George Samuel