Rebuke The Devil

I am writing to you, children, because your sins have been forgiven for his name's sake.  I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.  I am writing to you, young men, because you have conquered the Evil One.  I write to you, children, because you know the Father.  I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.  I write to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God remains in you, and you have conquered the Evil One. (1 John 2:12-17)

Today’s reading has an emphasis on the “Evil One.”  Who is this Evil One?  Pope Francis gives us the answer in his new book “Rebuking the Devil.” Never has anyone said so much about the devil than Pope Francis, or so it seems.  I’m a bit surprised at the Pope’s emphasis.  Then again, considering all the verbal attacks on him from within the Vatican, perhaps reference to the devil makes perfect sense.

Have we conquered the Evil One?  I prefer to think of evil as that which lurks in our hearts - not a creature or being.  We pray to be delivered from evil meaning for us to resist temptations to hurt, wound, cheat, and lie.   We all have the power to do good or evil – two competing urges with one sometimes winning out over the other.  Good usually prevails.   Thank God, although for some, evil tends to get the upper hand.  However, when the word of God remains in us, we are strong.

The New Year is about to begin.  We must be resolute in rebuking the Devil.   Who knows when that force will take on human form.  We must be prepared to conquer that creature – whether it’s us or someone else.

Deacon David Pierce