Evil permeates our culture. Its existence is deeply rooted in our awareness of the world around us. The personification of evil is a constant figure in our stories whether we tell them around a campfire or experience them in big-budget pyrotechnic movies. Evil is always there working against us, using our own good intentions against us. But what is truly amazing is how few people still believe in the devil.
A few years ago the devil preyed on our sympathies and good nature to induce us to see things, not as absolutes, but as they relate to one another. We were discouraged from passing judgment on behavior and morals because we had to see everything in the light of the individual’s personal worldview.
And although “Relativism” has begun to lose ground, it has not gone away. Now it is called “Tolerance.” Under the banner of “Tolerance” we are told to accept all sorts of behavior that we might otherwise condemn. It preys upon our weaknesses, a chink in the armor of our faith. And the devil loves to exploit weakness.
God does not deal in shades of gray.
In the end there are only two possibilities. We are either with God or against Him. Wheat or weeds, sheep or goats, good fish or bad fish, there are no third options.
We only have two jobs. First we must keep ourselves strong in our love for God. Second, we must strengthen those around us who need help.
There is no third job.
Pax Vobiscum
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time