02.25.25 - Angels & Demons

Opening Prayer:        

Lord, we thank you for the blessing of reading your word together.

We ask that these words of life, truth and hope would continue to impact us in the days ahead.

May your love and grace follow each of us as we return to our daily lives, enlightened and refreshed by You.

We ask all this in Your Name.

Our Father

Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily Bread;

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Upcoming major holy days:        Lent begins Ash Wednesday, March 5, so next week we will prepare for this. 

Solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19.

TODAY:      

·                 Fairfax Prison Ministry – we are in need of a female volunteer to work with women inmates

·                 Catholic Fact:  What was the origin of Lent?

·                 Gospel Reading for 8th Sun in Ord Time (3/2) – Judging Others, Luke 6:39-45

·                 Angels & Demons – Part II

Quote of the Day:    Faith is not just about isolated good or bad deeds but about the fundamental choice to live for God,

   seeking Him in all things.

Seventy Christians have been found beheaded in a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in what’s the latest devastating attack on believers in the northeast of the country. According to field sources, at around 4am last Thursday (13 February) suspected militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) – a group with ties to the Islamic State (IS) – approached homes in the territory of Lubero, saying: “Get out, get out and don’t make any noise.” Twenty Christian men and women came out and were captured. The people from the local community later gathered to work out how to release those held captive. Instead, ADF militants surrounded the village and captured a further 50 Christians. All 70 of those kidnapped were taken to a church in Kasanga where they were beheaded.

“We don’t know what to do or how to pray for this; we’ve had enough of massacres” – Local community leader.           Source: World Watch List, www.opendoors.org 

Lord, we pray for all Christians around the world, especially those being persecuted and killed for their belief in You. Please send blessings of comfort, healing, and every other form of assistance to the families of these martyrs, and we pray for the souls of all those who died. Receive them into your Kingdom.

Our Father…

What was the origin of Lent?

The practice of Lent has its roots in early Christianity. At first, it was part of the preparation for catechumens who were preparing for baptism, which was usually done during the Saturday just before Easter (Easter Vigil). By the 4th century, the observance of Lent became more formalized with a duration of 40 days to mirror the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert before beginning his public ministry. Since Easter is also a kind of baptismal renewal for all Christians, Lent became a practice of spiritual renewal for all.

What is the “Burial of the Alleluia”?

“Alleluia” is the Church’s great song of joy and praise, used throughout most of the liturgical year.  However, the solemnity of the coming Lenten season brings a more somber, reflective atmosphere to all her liturgies, which will culminate in the sorrowful mysteries of Our Lord’s Passion and Death.

The “Burial of the Alleluia,” which has been around for over a thousand years, refers to the ceremony surrounding the official end of the use of this word until the Easter Vigil, when it will be joyfully sung again in celebration of Our Lord’s Resurrection.

 Gospel Reading for Sun 3/2 – Judging Others, A Tree and Its Fruit, Luke 6:39-45

Context:  This is the 3rd and final part of the Sermon on the Plain. Initially, we discussed how the “Woes…” were blessings in reverse. Last week we discussed loving/praying for our enemies.  This week is about judging others, or what Jesus says, the hypocrisy of judging others.

            Luke’s reading begins, “Jesus told his disciples a parable.” We usually think of a parable as a story with figurative images or hidden metaphorical truths – and these are true. But a parable can also be a proverb or a riddle. Jesus uses these today.

            In the final 3 or 4 verses, Jesus speaks of “trees bearing fruit.” Here he is referring to the inner person (our hearts) vs the outer person (our actions). Do they match? When our interior and exterior selves don’t match, we have “hypocrisy.” The Greek translation for the word is an actor on a stage (pretending to be someone other than who they are).  

Jesus was very hard on what the Church calls the “sin of hypocrisy.” Why?

Hypocrisy is a sin against honesty/truthfulness in three ways:

Untruthfulness with oneself        Untruthfulness with others            Untruthfulness with God.

What is so painful is that others can see hypocrisy even when the hypocrite cannot, and it harms God’s message. If nonbelievers see Christians saying one thing but acting in the opposite way, they will likely never become Christian. Hypocrisy drives people away like nothing else; we are not only untruthful with ourselves and God, but we are driving others away from God. That is why Jesus was so harsh on the Pharisees.

Luke 6:39-45

Jesus told his disciples a parable, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?

No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.

Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?

How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?

You hypocrite!  Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.

“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles.

A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Exegesis/Interpretation

What is a disciple?

            A student, true, but more than that. Apprentice would be better. An apprentice learns from and imitates the master so that he can someday do the things and teach the things that the master does.

Who is the blind guide and who are the blind being led?

            The blind guide is spiritually blind and a hypocrite for proudly seeking to lead others to where he/she is (isn’t!). We have a strong desire to be righteous and to be praised, which is spiritual pride. We will be charged 2X for every soul we lead away from God.

All humans are subject to this tendency. Even when we learn a spiritual truth, we can backslide, because the ego wants to take credit for it. That’s called spiritual arrogance. Think of the Pharisee and the sinner in the Temple courtyard (Luke 18:9): I thank you, Lord, that I am not like other people…”

The only cure is to keep God at our center of our thinking and words, because truth only comes from Him.

Jesus uses a hyperbole to expertly make this point, so we don’t forget it:  

How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?

You hypocrite!  Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye

What is the answer to knowing we have a log in our own eye and then removing it?

            As usual, humility requires us to ask who is on the throne, our ego or the Lord. Then ask the Lord the same question.

What NT Biblical figure is a supreme example of “log in the eye” syndrome?

            Peter. During the Last Supper, Jesus said some of his disciples would fall away from him soon. Peter answers, “Lord, even if everyone else deserts you, I will NEVER desert you” (Mt 26:33). A few hours later, Peter denied knowing Jesus 3x.

BTW… If the Bible was edited to fool people into becoming Christians, don’t you think they would have taken out embarrassing references like this about the leader of the Apostles? The Bible is full of the mistakes and sins of God’s people.

Who is the blind leading the blind?

It could be us, if we aren’t careful. The blind doing the leading is full of self and of worldly promises. Those being led are often innocent people looking for answers, which makes them vulnerable to egomaniacs who appear attractive, charismatic, and self-effacing.   

One can only lead people spiritually if they are walking with the Lord. As for who to follow, the Lord says, “by their fruits ye shall know them.” So look at them hard and assume nothing.

This is where studying and understanding Scripture is so helpful. Scripture is our “lesson book” from God, and because we are “disciples,” we will learn by studying, repetition, practice, and encouraging each other.  

Speaking of knowing people by their fruits, let’s look at Jesus’s reference to trees and fruit. He is focusing on our words.

What is the tree and what is the fruit?

            The tree:  our heart, our inner selves. Our hearts are either good or bad, and we are trying to move towards good.

            The fruit:  our words and actions, our outer selves. If bad, they are “vices.” If good, they are “virtues.”

If our words and actions are hurtful, vindictive, or unforgiving, then we are filled with vice and our heart needs to be replaced. Only God can replace hearts, if we are willing to humble ourselves and ask Him.

           “He who goes about to reform the world must begin with himself, or he loses his labor.” – St. Ignatius says,

Angels and Demons – Part I of II

Recap: 

·       There are 403 references to angels/fallen angels/demons/devils in the Bible (285 angels + 118 demons). Scripture and tradition tell us the number of angels is huge and fallen angels a third of them.

·       Jesus, himself, engages the devil in the desert after his Baptism in Matthew 4:1-11. Numerous of his miracles involved getting rid of demons. The Church has performed exorcisms in their apostolic tradition ever since.  

·       The devil is allowed to enter into human affairs because humans invited him at the Fall of Man.

·       Whether we are talking spiritual, metaphorical, or literal appearances, the devil does not look like all the nasty depictions of him in the movies with red horns, forked tongue, and pitchfork. If he did, who would follow him?  The devil comes to us as the sweet voice of reason, a handsome guy with a winsome smile, a beautiful, alluring woman, sometimes even as a good angel! The devil only shows his true ugliness down the road, after he has us in his grasp. That ugliness may just show itself in the consequences of our decisions.  

·       We also talked about all the reasons why angels (and devils) are intellectually far superior to humans. This has always been understood by Jews and Christians. The following is from a saint in the 4th century.

“We fast, but the devil does not eat. We labor fervently, but the devil never sleeps. The only dimension which we can outperform Satan is by acquiring humility, for Satan has no humility” – St. Moses the Strong, Egypt, 390 AD.

Angels and Demons

Today (Part II)

1.    What is Spiritual Warfare

2.    Who were the named angels in the Bible?

3.    The 6th Day

What is Spiritual Warfare?

Spiritual warfare refers to the ongoing struggle that Christians face against spiritual forces of evil. This concept is rooted in the understanding that the Christian life is not merely a physical existence but involves a profound spiritual dimension where believers engage in a battle against sin, temptation, and the influences of the devil.

The foundation of spiritual warfare is found in the New Testament, particularly in the writings of St. Paul. He emphasizes that the struggle is not against “flesh and blood… but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12).

What does Paul mean by the heavenly places?

            In biblical times, they believed there were three heavens:

1) The atmospheric heavens (the sky above, including the moon, the sun, and the stars).

2) The spiritual/non-material heavens (angels and demons).

3) The dwelling place of God.

All this highlights the belief that Christians are engaged in a battle that transcends the physical realm, involving unseen spiritual adversaries.

Spiritual warfare encompasses various aspects of a Christian’s life, including:

·       Personal Struggle Against Temptation and Sin: Each believer is called to engage in a spiritual struggle against their own passions and sins. This begins at Baptism, where one renounces the devil and commits to living in Christ. The ongoing effort to resist temptation and grow in holiness is a central aspect of this warfare.

·       Prayer and Sacraments: Prayer is a vital weapon in spiritual warfare. It is described as a battle that requires effort and perseverance, as believers often face distractions and temptations that can hinder their relationship with God. The sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, provide grace and strength to combat spiritual adversaries.

·       Community and Support: The Church plays a crucial role in spiritual warfare. Believers are not left to fight alone – we are part of the Body of Christ. We are supported by the community and the grace of the Holy Spirit. This synergy allows Christians to grow in their spiritual lives and resist the powers of evil.

·       The Role of Grace – the Church teaches that while the struggle is intense, we are to be filled with hope. God’s grace is  always available to assist believers in their spiritual combat, and grace is more powerful than any number of demons! The faithful are encouraged to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of the saints to overcome any challenge.

Because the devil doesn’t give up, spiritual warfare is a continuous process of growth and reliance on divine assistance that shapes our spiritual journey .

Named Angels

Though the bible refers to "hosts of angels" several times, the angels we have names for – Rafael, Gabriel, Michael, Lucifer, Apollyon – all had different roles. Each of these archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides

·       Michael appears in Daniel's vision as "the great prince" who defends Israel against its enemies; in the Book of Revelation, he leads God's armies to final victory over the forces of evil.

·       Gabriel also makes an appearance in Daniel's visions, announcing Michael's role in God's plan. His best-known appearance is an encounter with a young Jewish girl named Mary, who consents to bear the Messiah.

·       Raphael's activity is confined to the Old Testament story of Tobit. There he appears to guide Tobit's son Tobiah through a series of fantastic adventures which lead to a threefold happy ending: Tobiah's marriage to Sarah, the healing of Tobit's blindness and the restoration of the family fortune.

·       Lucifer was an archangel who led the angelic rebellion against God. He was cast out of Heaven and became Satan.

·       Apollyon is mentioned in Revelation 9:11 is considered to be another name for Satan and means “angel of the abyss.” It is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name Abaddon, which also means "the destroyer." 

It is worth mentioning that, even within the classifications of angels we are given – i.e., Seraphim, Cherubim, Archangels, Guardian Angels – every angel is as different from each other as humans are. That is fascinating given the billions of different spiritual personalities that would therefore exist all around us. 

Per tradition and as Jesus alludes to in Matthew 18:10, we each have a Guardian Angel. That is good news as we have someone trying to look out for us routinely. Now for the scary part. Given our understanding that there are many billions of angels, the fact that a third of them fell becoming demons means all of us are likely have our very own “Un-guardian Fallen Angel” as well. If God assigns each of us a guardian angel, you can presume Satan does likewise, since his primary goal of existence is to keep humans in the 6th Day. Welcome to the world of demons and spiritual warfare. 

Closing Prayer:

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.

Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray;

And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan

And all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen.