Posted on 10/30/2014 3:25:08 PM PDT by NYer
.- In his homily on Thursday, Pope Francis said that the devil is more than an idea, and in order to fight him, we must follow St. Paul’s instructions and put on the armor of God which protects us.
“In this generation, like so many others, people have been led to believe that the devil is a myth, a figure, an idea, the idea of evil. But the devil exists and we must fight against him,” the Pope told those present in the Vatican’s Saint Martha house for his Oct. 30 daily Mass.
He turned to St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, from which the day’s first reading was taken and in which the apostle warns against the temptations of the devil, telling Christians to clothe themselves with the armor of God so they can resist.
Pope Francis said that a Christian life requires both strength and courage, and needs to be defended because it is a constant battle with the devil, who tempts with worldly attractions, the passions and our flesh.
“From whom do I have to defend myself? What must I do?” he asked, saying that St. Paul tells us to “put on God’s full armor, meaning that God acts as a defense, helping us to resist Satan’s temptations. Is this clear?”
No spiritual or Christian life is possible without the need to resist temptation, the Roman Pontiff observed, explaining how our battle is not with small, trivial things, but rather with the principalities and ruling forces of this world, which are rooted in the devil and his followers.
The Bishop of Rome pointed out how there are many in the current generation who no longer believe in the devil, but rather think of him as “a myth, a figure, an idea, the idea of evil.”
However the devil does exist and we must constantly be on guard, he said, noting how “Paul tells us this, it’s not me saying it! The Word of God is telling us this. But we’re not all convinced of this.”
Pope Francis then recounted St. Paul’s description of the armor of God, of which the apostle says there are different types.
The apostle also urges the Ephesians to stand firm with the truth as “a belt around your waist,” the Pope observed, saying that the devil is a liar, and that in order to defeat him we always fight with the truth and with faith in God.
Like Saint Paul says, our faith in God is a shield to defend ourselves against Satan, who “doesn’t throw flowers at us (but) burning arrows” intended to kill, the pontiff explained.
“Life is a military endeavor. Christian life is a battle, a beautiful battle, because when God emerges victorious in every step of our life, this gives us joy, a great happiness,” the Pope continued, saying that our joy lies in the fact that it is the Lord who is the victor within us, giving us the free gift of salvation.
However, Pope Francis also cautioned that “we’re all a bit lazy, aren’t we, in this battle and we allow ourselves to get carried away by our passions, by various temptations.”
This is because each one of us is a sinner, he said, telling those present to not be discouraged, but rather to have courage and take strength in the knowledge that the Lord is with us.
Ping!
So, will this too get twisted by the usual suspects here at FR?
I have no problem with the pope. He seems to be saying things just for attention. Am I wrong?
Huh? It’s not our responsibility to fight satan, that belongs to God.
With all due respect to Pope Francis, beware of blaming the devil for unrepentant sin. After all, 1 Corinthians 10:13 indicates that Paul had noted that God always provides a sinless way out of temptation.
In other words, the worldly adage, “the devil made me do it,” is unscriptural.
>>Huh? It’s not our responsibility to fight satan, that belongs to God.
I’m a Protestant, but he’s right on this. We have to put on the armor of God and fight Satan like you would a home invader.
I am confused. Why is Elton John so thrilled with the pope at the moment?
Lighten up, Francis. You do this all the time these days. Trying to please everyone. Once you chain four good moves in a row, I’ll reevaluate.
How so?
From the MSM tomorrow:
"Deviled eggs are no meal," says the Pope, and they frighten him.
“Huh? It’s not our responsibility to fight satan, that belongs to God.”
I’m sure what he said before translation was resist...
That's not what St. Paul says in today's First Reading: (Emphasis is mine.)
October 30, 2014
Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 Eph 6:10-20
Brothers and sisters:
Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm
against the tactics of the Devil.
For our struggle is not with flesh and blood
but with the principalities, with the powers,
with the world rulers of this present darkness,
with the evil spirits in the heavens.
Therefore, put on the armor of God,
that you may be able to resist on the evil day
and, having done everything, to hold your ground.
So stand fast with your loins girded in truth,
clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,
and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace.
In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield,
to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One.
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.
With all prayer and supplication,
pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.
To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication
for all the holy ones and also for me,
that speech may be given me to open my mouth,
to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel
for which I am an ambassador in chains,
so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.
Thanks
“However the devil does exist and we must constantly be on guard, he said, noting how “Paul tells us this, it’s not me saying it! The Word of God is telling us this.” — This is a fundamental belief in Zoroastrianism too. And that we fight it, resist it &/or avoid it, depending on situation & circumstances. Thats the eternal battle between ‘good & evil’.
We are fighting Satan!
In 6 days we will take his majority away in the US Senate.
Ping for our Pope!
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Maybe they're from Kansas City and still recovering from the World Series. :o)
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