This affected me. How could I have overlooked it? One definition of Devil is "subordinate to evil".
But now another question arises: Have we not all been, at one time, subordinate to evil? God needed Judas for His plan as I mentioned, and He also needed the King of Egypt - whose "heart He hardened".
God is truly the potter and we are all His clay, in spite of our beliefs. I feel so sorry for Judas. I wonder, does my empathy make excuses for Judas?
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But now another question arises: Have we not all been, at one time, subordinate to evil?
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Why would Jesus then say that it would have been better for Judas to have never been born ?
If our being at one time or another, subordinate to evil, would it warrant a serious statement that says, it would have been better for us to have never been born ?
It answers much, and raises more questions for some, as Augustine makes clear the case of the Sacramental nature of the Last Supper, observed then and now by Catholics. As to Xenia's objection to spiritual excercises, naturally we are called to examine our consciences, lest we should stray from the Faith, as John Chyrsostom, another early Christian Father makes the point in this passage:http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/230612.htm
Not the least of which makes the case that 1 TIMOTHY iv. 1--3 emphatically indicates we are not once saved always saved. V's wife.