At Mass at Casa Santa Marta, Tuesday
morning, Pope Francis talked about how to deal with the devil who though
defeated and dying is still dangerous.
By Robin Gomes
Never approach the devil nor talk to him: he is
"defeated" but dangerous because he seduces and, like a chained angry
dog, bites if you go to pat him. Pope Francis offered this advice in his
homily at Mass, Tuesday morning, in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta in the
Vatican.
Commenting on John’s Gospel where Jesus says “the ruler of this
world has been condemned," the Pope spoke about the seduction of the devil
and how to deal with him.
The Pope said that even though the devil is defeated and dying
he has a great power and capacity to seduce. He promises many things,
bringing us beautifully packed gifts, without revealing their contents.
Dying but dangerous
The Pope compared the devil to a dying crocodile, who hunters
advise not to approach because it can still strike you dead with its tail.
Hence the devil is very dangerous, his proposals are all lies and we
foolishly believe him.
The Pope described the devil as the father of lies, saying he
speaks well, he can sing in order to deceive and he is loser who moves about
like a winner. His light dazzles like the fireworks but does not last.
Instead the light of the Lord is "gentle and permanent".
Never dialogue with the devil
The devil, the Pope said, knows how to seduce us in our vanity
and curiosity and we buy everything, falling into temptation. Knowing
that a thought, a desire or move is dangerous and we still go there, it is like
approaching the devil who is like a chained angry dog that can still bite.
Unlike Eve who thought herself a “great theologian” and
fell, the Pope said we must never dialogue with the devil because he wins, he
is more intelligent than us. On the contrary, Jesus in the desert responds to
the devil with the Word of God, hunts down demons, sometimes asking his name
but doesn't dialogue.
Pray, watch, fast
Recalling the advice of Jesus to watch, do penance and fast,
Pope Francis said we too must do so but never enter into dialogue with the
devil. And in moments of temptation we must approach the mother, like
frightened children do. According to the Russian mystics, in times of
spiritual upheavals, take refuge under the mantle of the great Mother of God,
the Pope said.
------------------------
THE GOSPEL
Jn 16:5-11 -- Unless I go, the Advocate will not come to you - Jekk ma mmurx, id-Difensur ma jiġix għandkom.
TUESDAY GOSPEL OF WEEK 6 OF EASTERTIDE
Evanġelju
Jekk ma mmurx, id-Difensur ma jiġix għandkom.
Ġw 16, 5-11
Jekk ma mmurx, id-Difensur ma jiġix għandkom.
Ġw 16, 5-11
Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Ġwann
F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: [Ġw:16:5] Issa sejjer għand dak li bagħatni, u ħadd minnkom ma jistaqsini, 'Fejn sejjer?' [Ġw:16:6] Imma għax għedtilkom dan, qalbkom imtliet bin-niket. [Ġw:16:7] Madankollu, ngħidilkom is-sewwa, jaqblilkom li jiena mmur; għaliex, jekk ma mmurx, id-Difensur ma jiġix għandkom; imma jekk immur, nibgħathulkom. [Ġw:16:8] U meta huwa jiġi, juri lid-dinja li għandha żball dwar id-dnub, il-ġustizzja u l-ġudizzju; [Ġw:16:9] id-dnub, filli huma ma jemmnux fija; [Ġw:16:10] il-ġustizzja, filli jien sejjer għand il-Missier, u intom m'intomx se tarawni iżjed; [Ġw:16:11] il-ġudizzju, filli l-Prinċep ta' din id-dinja huwa ġa kkundannat.
Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu
.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment