Master of Lies

Master of Lies

   I have avoided this topic for long enough. It is time that I speak about what is at the root of all evil in the world. We all know what or, best yet, who that is. The master of lies, the king of deceptions, the hater of life, the fallen angel, satan. I did not want to give him time in my blog but you know I must apologize for not doing so. This fallen angel does need to be spoken about and called out. “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist” is to me, the greatest quote on satan. This is why I apologize for not dealing with this earlier. 

     In this world we live in today many people and that includes Christians & Catholics not just secular society diminish or ever don't believe that satan’s hand is at work in the world. Personally I have never had that felling. Even as a child I believed in what he represented and believed in his presence in the world.  I am not saying that we need to become crazed about him in that he is around every corner and worry but know he does exist and that we have won because of Jesus’s death and resurrection. I feel that this past Mondays events show both the existence of satan and even more the power of prayer.

      As many know that a “Black Mass” was to be held at Harvard University under the cover of an “educational experience”. A way for the Cultural Studies Club to educate people about it. Now, lets face it. This is how satan works. he is the king of deception and what better way to slither into peoples minds and work then to call it an educational experience. This way people who do not know how he works, give free access to their minds and souls. Let’s think about it... How many of the people who were going to this event have gone to a black mass to begin with or even if the group that put on the black mass had a sign up in the community would ever go? Yet, let the Cultural Studies Club host it, then those same that would not have ever gone now will go and “learn”. This is where the danger lies. It is in the masking that satan draws and works his way into us. The masking of non threatening settings. 

     Now, THANK GOD, people rose up and protested this event and prayers were raised to the heavens. The dioceses planned Eucharistic processions, masses and prayer in local churches and people across the nation offered up prayers. The event was moved, then cancelled by the group but a much much smaller event took place. Still a victory was had because of prayers and people standing up. What I did find interesting was that it was the Catholics that really rallied but really did not hear much from otherChristian Denominations. This was not just a “Catholic” issue but because the word mass is used it seemed that many others felt it was only a “Catholic’ issue. satan is not just a Catholic issue but an issue for all Christians. We all face the temptations and lies of satan. There is not one devil for Catholics and another for other Christians. We need to gather and join when satan rears his ugly head and tries to work in the world. 

      This recent movement of satan shows that he is getting more brazen in his actions and this should make us shutter because this means he is very comfortable. We have allowed him to creep more and more into our lives and he has done this slowly. How many people feel that there is nothing wrong with going to psychics, consult cards, have our palms read, read our horoscopes, tea leaves read etc... For some of those people, this becomes an obsession to the point where they rely on these things to make decisions and choices in their lives. They can not make a decision without seeing a psychic or using any of those other tools. Then there are others who just say, its for fun, doesn’t mean anything, I don’t believe in it... and these are the excuses that brings us further from God. 

      Why do people read their horoscopes daily instead of reading the bible or praying about their day? Why do people consult a psychic instead of prayer or speaking to a priest? Why do people allow cards to dictate their lives instead of their souls? We have allowed these things to pull us from God and prayer. To rely on things that are not of God but present themselves as answers to whatever our problems or questions are. The devil works through these things to pull as away even if it as seen as just fun. We become desensitized to satan tactics. Almost numb to them and this is where he wants us. Accepting and numb. 

        Like I said earlier this is not to make you or myself afraid or crazed about satan but just a way for us to see him in the world and what ways he tries to become part of our lives. We need to be watchful and know when to stand up against these things like the “Black Mass”. Catholics united and prayed this week. Opened up and showed that we will NOT be brought down or allow satan to mock the faith. This is what we are all called to do. Stand and Pray. 

        When we start to under estimate what satan has done, is doing and will do is when he takes more ground and takes a tighter hold on the world. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and remember the greatest way to avoid the traps of satan is confession, attend mass, receive Eucharist and turn to God in prayer and not those things that pull us from God and Faith. 

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Lectionary: 282

Reading 1

ACTS 13:13-25

From Paphos, Paul and his companions

set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. 

But John left them and returned to Jerusalem. 

They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. 

On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats. 

After the reading of the law and the prophets,

the synagogue officials sent word to them,

“My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation

for the people, please speak.”

So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said,

“Fellow children of Israel and you others who are God-fearing, listen.

The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors

and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. 

With uplifted arm he led them out,

and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert.

When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan,

he gave them their land as an inheritance

at the end of about four hundred and fifty years.

After these things he provided judges up to Samuel the prophet. 

Then they asked for a king.

God gave them Saul, son of Kish,

a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 

Then he removed him and raised up David as their king;

of him he testified,

I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;

he will carry out my every wish.

From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise,

has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. 

John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance

to all the people of Israel;

and as John was completing his course, he would say,

‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.

Behold, one is coming after me;

I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’“

Responsorial Psalm

PS 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 AND 27

R. (2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;

through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.

For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;

in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.

R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

“I have found David, my servant;

with my holy oil I have anointed him,

That my hand may be always with him,

and that my arm may make him strong.”

R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

“My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,

and through my name shall his horn be exalted.

He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,

my God, the Rock, my savior.’”

R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Gospel

JN 13:16-20

When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them:

“Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master

nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.

If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.

I am not speaking of all of you.

I know those whom I have chosen.

But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,

The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.

From now on I am telling you before it happens,

so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. 

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send

receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”