The Church is made up of three realities. First, we have the Church Triumphant which is the angels and saints of Heaven. Secondly, we have the Church Pugative which are those in purgatory who are in need of our prayers. Finally, we have the Church Militant which is the Church here on earth. We are in the midst of spiritual battle and we see this theme played out in our readings. We are told in 1 Peter, “Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
We are told in Genesis that this serpent is cunning. He caused Adam and Eve to turn away from God as they ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So too this serpent is cunning in his assaults made against us. As we say when we turn towards the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel, “Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.”
This word “snare” means to trap something. Once seized they are caught at the mercy of their captor. As the Lord came to the desert in order to fast and pray this same cursed serpent came with the hope of leading the Lord astray. In the dialogue between the Lord and the devil; the devil constantly attempted to twist scripture to lead the Lord astray.
We must remember that a title that has been given to the devil is the father of lies. The devil is unable to create for he is not God. All that the devil can do is twist that which has been created by God, so that it no longer follows its God given purpose. At the end of each day of creation we are told, “And it was good.”
It was good for it was created by God Himself. The fruit of the tree was good, but it was twisted to where it no longer met its God given purpose. The devil attempted to make the Lord fall into this same trap through the promises of power. The Lord did not give into these twists of truth, but through His complete understanding of the truths given within Sacred Scripture.
We now join with the Lord in this desert for a period of forty days and nights. We refer to this time as Lent which serves as a time of preparation for the coming of Easter. Throughout this season we pray, fast, and give alms in order that we may grow close to the Lord. It is these practices which assist us in taming our passions in order that they may follow there God given purpose.
In this world we can see the many ways in which the devil has creeped in to lead us astray. He brings promises of fulfillment if only we take that which has been created by God to be good and twist it to the point that it no longer meets its God given purpose. To this reality we see the many things that plague our world if not our own life.
How is the Lord calling you to enter into this desert of Lent in order that you may draw close to Him? What practices can you put in place during this sacred time to redirect your life towards its proper purpose? May each of us have a fruitful Lenten season in which we come to foster devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary who steps upon this cursed serpent who attempts to lead us astray. As it is said in the Book of Genesis: “I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.” May she pray for us in order that we may be good and faithful servants of the Lord.
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