Deliver Us from Evil

Deliver Us from Evil

    Today I went to see the movie “Deliver Us from Evil”. The movie was based the real life events of Ralph Sarchie and Father Mendoza who together deal with a case that is demonically charged. This is not going to be a blog about my review of the movie (mind you I really enjoyed it and would recommend it) but about the idea of Exorcisms. Exorcisms is a reality and we need to understand the fact that yes, evil does exists and with that so do the devil. For some reason the devil gets down played and so does the idea of an evil force that seeks to pull our relationship with God apart. I am not saying we cower and look for evil around every corner by any means. It is just excepting the idea of this being a reality. 

      Todays Gospel reading was about Jesus driving out two demons and when Jesus got to the town people were upset with Him because the demons entered the swine and they went into the see and drowned. Today we tend to overlook the idea of it being a reality at times and pawn off the idea of being just a psychological issue with people. Maybe it is easier to just have it explained away because a reality of the devil means a reality of a Hell. It then makes us look at and see where our paths are heading and whether we are on that narrow path or wide. 

      I have said this before and I will say it again, “The greatest lie the devil ever got people to believe is that he does not exist.” I can honestly say that I have always believed in his existence. Never doubted it. Never doubted Exorcisms. It is not that i was raised to fear the devil or the fire and brimstone from Homilies but just a reality that was there. Maybe it has something to do with one of my favorite books of CS Lewis called “The Screwtape Letters”. Where one demon called Screwtape writes his nephew Wormwood about securing the damnation of a man. I highly recommend that book along with everything else of CS Lewis.

       I wonder when this down play of the devil and demons started? The idea that there is no possessions but a psychological explanation. Again this is not a fear that should take over but just a reminder of what really is out in the world. A reminder that we need to stay away from things like the occult, speak out against Black Masses that people try and pass off as “education”, and watch what we allow into our thoughts and homes.  

     One of my favorite prayers is the prayer to St. Michael. It all fitting to end with this prayer in this blog as well as tomorrows readings. 

St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen..

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and St. Michael pray for us. 

Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle
Lectionary: 593

Reading 1

EPH 2:19-22

Brothers and sisters:

You are no longer strangers and sojourners,

but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones

and members of the household of God, 

built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,

with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.

Through him the whole structure is held together

and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;

in him you also are being built together

into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 117:1BC, 2

R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

Praise the LORD, all you nations;

glorify him, all you peoples!

R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

For steadfast is his kindness for us,

and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever. 

R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

Gospel

JN 20:24-29

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,

was not with them when Jesus came.

So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

But Thomas said to them,

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands

and put my finger into the nailmarks

and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside

and Thomas was with them.

Jesus came, although the doors were locked,

and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,

and bring your hand and put it into my side,

and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”

Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”