Be on your guard!
Wis 1,1-7; Ps 138; Lk 17,1-6
11 NOVEMBER
We can compare the scandal to a match with which a pile of dry leaves is lit in a forest. In a short time, the flames, powered by the strong wind, ignite the whole forest. It takes centuries for a forest to grow. A few hours were sufficient to be reduced to ashes. It took centuries to build true morality, according to God, in the hearts of men. Only a few years of scandals made of words and deeds sufficed and we are erasing the signs of the true God in the heart of all humanity. Today evil is spread with ever new diabolical art. Satan is truly being dressed as an angel of charity, mercy, welcome, compassion, equality, indifference and vagueness, to overthrow the Law of the Lord, his Word, the only source of truth and justice, of right and of obedience to grace.
By dressing as an angel of love Satan has succeeded in erasing from religion all truths of the mystery of the Trinity, Incarnation, Redemption, Salvation, Justification, Sanctification, Obedience, Sacred Scripture, Justice, Eternal Life, Paradise, Hell, Church, Evangelizing Mission, Sacraments, Deposit of faith and Morality. Having lost the richness of Revelation, necessarily idolatry with the universal immorality that brings with it has taken over in its place. Is there any possibility in this sea of falsehood and of theological, soteriological, anthropological and eschatological lies to remain steadfast in faith and in its truths? The only viable way is that which Saint Paul gives us in the Letter to the Ephesians: wearing the armour of God. But who can wear it if today the very faith in the Word of Scripture has failed? Let him wear this armour of God who still believes. By wearing it, he can indicate it to others.
Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armour of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armour of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones and also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains, so that I may have the courage to speak as I must (Eph 6,10-20).
Since the soul is personal, everyone must be careful with himself. He cannot risk eternal perdition. But even this truth Satan, dressed as an angel of mercy, has taken away from the heart Christians. Being in the end all saved, what is the use of being attentive to ourselves? There are no external dangers to avoid. All roads lead to Heaven.
He said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the person through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.” And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to (this) mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Once there was the crisis of the individual. The Church intervened. She declared falsehood false and said the truth true. Everyone knew what was true and what was false. Today it is the Church herself that no longer declares falsehood false and does not say the truth true. It is not the individual who is without any defence anymore, but the whole community, indeed humanity itself. The individual can live the truth, but he can no longer defend it. Everyone has the right to be false.
Mother of God, Angels and Saints ensure that the defenders of the truth resume their ministry.