13 January 2010: The Magi return to their country

We cannot imagine the happiness and spiritual delight the Magi experienced with the Infant Jesus. How they would have loved to live there! But they had to leave, with great regret -- thanking him with all their hearts; begging his blessing; devoting entirely to his interests and glory; desiring to make him known and loved by all men.

Thus must we be on leaving the real Presence of Jesus Christ each time we visit him in the Blessed Sacrament or receive him in Holy Communion. Do we leave with strange coldness, even abruptly? Perhaps, because we were insincere or with too weak a faith?

“Having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.” (Mt 1:12) Probably, more animated with a perfect love, a desire to work and suffer, for Jesus.

Such ought to be our affections and resolutions with God in prayer -- at Mass, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, and especially in Holy Communions.

Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp31-2

Who is the devil?

A personal, real and individual being; an indivisible spirit who separated himself from God forever by his sin, “because the devil and the other demons were created naturally good by God; but they became bad by themselves” (Fourth Lateran Council, Dz 800 (428). “He is a liar and the father of lies” (Jn 8:44), of sin, discord, affliction, hatred, all that is absurd and evil on earth (cf Heb 2:14).

The astute and envious serpent who brings death to the world (cf Wis 2:24), the enemy who sows evil in man’s heart (cf Mt 13:28-39); the only being we must fear if we are not close to God. His avowed sole purpose is our perdition.

“It all began with his rejection of God and God’s kingdom, when he usurped his sovereign rights and tried to overturn the economy of salvation and the very ordering of creation itself. This attitude [is] reflected in the words of the tempter to our first parents: ‘You will be like gods.’ This is how the evil spirit endeavours to transplant into man the attitude of proud rivalry, of insubordination and opposition to God ...” (John Paul II, “General Audience”, 13 Aug 1986)

The devil is the first cause of evil, disorders and breaks in families and in society. In tempting us, the devil deceives because he can present only a false good and fictitious happiness, which inevitably turn into loneliness and bitterness.

Outside of God true good or happiness do not, and cannot, exist; only darkness, emptiness and endless misery. The devil’s limited power is under the dominion and sovereignty of God, the only Lord of the universe.

The devil cannot violate our liberty. “It is a certain fact that the devil cannot seduce anybody if he does not freely give to the devil the consent of his will.” (Cassian, “Conferences”, 7)

The holy ‘Curé d’Ars’ says “the devil is a great chained dog which puts people to flight, makes a great noise, but only bites those who come too close” (“Sermon on Temptations”). “No human power can vanquish him and only God’s light can unmask the snares he lays. The soul that would overcome the power of the devil will fail to do so without prayer, nor will it recognize his deceitful traps without the aid of mortification and humility.” (St John of the Cross, “The Spiritual Canticle”, 3, 9)

The life of Jesus was summarized in the words, “He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (Acts 10:38). And St John, speaking about the cause of the Incarnation, explains, “The Son of God was revealed ... to destroy the works of the devil” (1 Jn 3:8).

Christ is the true victor over the devil. Jesus said in speaking about his death, “Now the ruler of this world will be driven out” (Jn 12:31). God “decided to enter into the history of mankind in a new and definitive manner by sending his own Son in human flesh, so that through him He might snatch men from the power of darkness and of satan” (cf Col 1:3, Acts 10:38). (Second Vatican Council, “Ad gentes”, 3)

Our Lord has left us many means of conquering and living in this world with peace and joy of a good Christian. These include prayer, mortification, frequent reception of Holy Communion and Sacrament of Penance, and love for Our Lady. We are always safe in her company.

Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:33-6

Our Temptations

The number and manifold character of our temptations have their basis in that 3-fold concupiscence: “For nothing that the world affords comes from the Father. Carnal allurements, enticement for the eye, and life of empty show -- all these are from the world.” (1 Jn 2:16)

As is well known, the ‘world’ from which the Christian should keep away is not creation, the work of God which was entrusted to the dominion of man; but the symbol and sign of everything which is the opposite of ‘God’s kingdom’.

There are three aspects of the world from which the Christian should keep his distance, so as to be faithful to Jesus’ message. These ‘three concupiscences’ are sensual appetites, excessive hunger for earthly goods and prideful self-sufficiency in regard to God ... three great temptations to which the Christian will be subjected during his earthly life.

But behind this threefold temptation, we find the earliest and all-embracing temptation Satan addressed directly to our first parents: “You will be like gods who know what is good and what is bad.” (cf Gen 3:5) The first Adam chose himself instead of God. He yielded and became poor, weak, ‘naked’, ‘the slave of sin’ (cf Jn 8:34).

Christ, the second Adam, confirmed the fundamental dependence of man upon God against Satan. Christ tells us that man is not humiliated, but is exalted in his own dignity whenever he prostrates himself and adores the Infinite Being, his Creator and Father: “You shall do homage to the Lord your God; him alone shall you adore.” (Mt 4:10)

Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp117-8

Pius V reformed the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin, in the year 1571. (Balivehem on the Calendar.) (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)

Pius V reformed the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin, in the year 1571.-- Balivehem on the Calendar.) (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)