THE REAL ENEMY

THE REAL ENEMY

During my childhood I lived in terror of the devil.  I believed that the devil was constantly watching me and waiting for an opportunity to make me sin.  This was common among children of my generation and was reinforced regularly in school. It wasn’t until I went to Marygrove College that I began to understand that the struggle between good and evil is not an even match.  God is on the side of good and nothing, not even the devil, can overcome him because God is love and love is invincible. 

The love of God or, rather, our belief in the the love of God, and the conviction that trust in God protects us absolutely, gives us the courage and strength to face life, with all it’s issues.    Fear is the real enemy.  To be frightened is one thing, to be afraid of being frightened is quite another. That fear paralyzes and denies the power of God.  Trust in God and fear-of-life are mutually exclusive.  Jesus’ greeting always began with ‘Peace be with you’ and was usually followed up with ‘Fear not’.  God knows full well how fear constricts the heart and enslaves the spirit. 

 Believing in superstitions, jinxes and omens gives power to fear.  One time I suggested that someone who was facing surgery with great trepidation come to the Anointing of the Sick ceremony.  Their reaction was incredible.  They stared at me with horror and said that they didn’t want to jinx the surgery.  I’m not speechless very often, but that did it. 

How does this happen?  How can God be so misunderstood?  It seems people want God to be Santa Claus and believe that God is watching and tallying up the times they are naughty or nice and that will decide whether they go to heaven or not.  The emptiness of that kind of faith is awful. Jesus is the human face of God.  The purpose of his life on earth was to forge a bond between the human race and the Creator, which is why Jesus said, “Whoever has seen me, has seen the Father because the Father and I are one”.  (Jn 14)  Get to know Jesus and you know God.  Compassion ruled his life along with justice, mercy, reason and patience.  Those virtues are not just from God; they are God. 

Carry these words of St. Francis DeSales with you to give to those whose faith is weak. 

Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life;

rather, look to them with full hope that as they arise, God,

whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things;

and when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms.

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;

the same understanding Father who cares for

you today will take care of you then and every day.

He will either shield you from suffering

or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace, then and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.

In this age of Evangelization efforts, if all we do is convince people to put aside all fear and trust the loving God, we are fulfilling Jesus command: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel”.

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA