Oh Yes - The devil is very real!…..Believe it - So “put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm”

Today the Universal Church commemorates the Feast of the Archangels: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael….Michael is the defender - Gabriel is the messenger and Raphael is the healer….Scripture tells us very clearly that the devil is like a lion, who prowls the earth looking to devour souls…..That is reality…But the devil is subtle, highly intelligent and also knows each of our weakness - And we ALL have weaknesses….The devil does not walk around with a red custom, horns and a pointed tail either………..The greatest “trick” the devil pulled off is he has convinced the world today that he does not exist, there is no such thing as sin and there is no hell……Scripture also tells us more about the enemy as far as how to resist him…..”Put on the armor 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 armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground”…….Who are these “principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness”?…..From the macro to the micro - These “principalities and powers” exist within each of us…Yes - You and Me…And we must make a choice to “go along to get along” or resist them….What is the armor of God?….This is Sacramental Grace, which shields us from temptations and lies which deceive the world…..Our biggest mistake? - We believe none of what I just wrote is true…We believe we do not need God….We believe we won’t “fall” for the lies, temptations and traps set by the world, the flesh and the devil - I got news for you - Think again!….Today at Mass the Gospel tells us very clearly about this battle which is being waged in the our world today…Its also being fought within our very self……”War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it”……..The dividing line between good and evil - Between God and the devil - Comes down to four simple words and each of us say these words or refuse to say these words………..I WILL NOT SERVE…………So open your eyes - The enemy is very real......"Put on the armor of God"

“The court was convened, and the books were opened. As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven”

Many people today think that demons are made up…Let me tell you something right now - Demons are very real…Every Archdiocese in the Catholic Church has an exorcist…..The exorcist for the Archdiocese on New York is a family friend - For purposes of this reflection, lets call the exorcists for New York Fr Pete…..One afternoon I happened to be in Harlem where Fr Pete was living at the time…A troubled woman was getting some spiritual direction from him….This woman’s father was a Satanist and when she was born her father dedicated her in a Satanic ceremony to the devil….Because a father has authority over his children given to him by God, this curse had lasting effects upon this poor woman…I watched with my own eyes as Fr Pete addressed the demon within this woman…How she spoke to him in a voice that was not her own…How her entire body tensed up as Fr Pete spoke to her…All the muscles in her back flexed violently….She began to swear and speak in the third person…..To be honest…I could not believe my own eyes!…..So yes - The devil is very real…And what I just wrote about is an extreme case of evil present in the world….Most times however, evil is much more subtle….Temptations start small and build upon themselves…The “door” a way from God opens slightly and grows and grows bigger until it is open wide….The devil knows what he is doing…And sadly when we are not in the state of grace - We are easily “picked off”!….This is what is meant by “putting on the armor of God” and why its so important…..Living a Sacramental life fortifies the human will, gives a person vision to see the traps of the devil and his lies and also enables one to resist temptations they otherwise would not be able to resist……You think I am making this up?…You think the devil is not real?….And if you do think he is real - Do you somehow “think” you will resist him without divine assistance or Sacramental grace?……Once again - Think again!…..The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night”

Today the Church rightful celebrates the Feast of Michael, Gabriel and Raphael……These three angels have immense power and are here to help us as we each make daily choices to serve God or to turn from God….Make no mistake because that is what we each do……Of all the weapons we have at our disposal to use against the devil, one of the greatest weapon we can possess is humility…The devil has no humility - He is full of pride….When we bend our knee fully to God…The devil is defenseless…Our Lady was the greatest example of this outside of Jesus himself……The devil is powerless against Our Lady, due to her will being perfectly conformed to her son……”A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God, that there she might be taken care of for twelve hundred and sixty days. Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it”…….Oh Yes - The devil is very real!…..Believe it - So “put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm”……..JMJ