Evil

Evil is not a very popular subject these days -at least not real evil. Folks say it a lot meaning that is kind of bad but real evil that stuff that creeps in and removes us from who we are - that is children of God - that is what I mean.

I found myself saying that something that I was confronting was the work of the devil earlier. This is not PC, of course, to admit that the Devil may be personified in some way or have some influence. I do not even mean by "the devil' a creature with bad breath and horns. But there are forces for evil in our world and they compete with the forces of good.

This is something we have to be prepared for in the Christian life - it is not just some sort of personal bad luck but it is part of the battle we wage against sin - that whether it is a personified devil or simply human nature that the closer we get to divinity, often, the harder the world seems to shake against us. Perhaps this is why so many saints seem to have been so deeply hurt and at some sort of apex when they had close and mystical encounters with God. Sometimes it seems as though sin and evil really do work against us to keep us from union with our maker - that breaking apart of humanity that sometimes occurs, perhaps, disarms some of the wiles of Satan.

I do not know the answer. I do know that unresolved anger and bitterness, stories never told and fear are all harborers of evil. When the Gospel light begins to shine in a place those sad and unkempt circumstances in people's past lead them to hateful and mean actions in the present. This is evil and it is not as easy as a guy in a read suit throwing balls of fire. It is not easy because it is out friends and neighbors, those who we are called to love, who can carry a message so contrary to the Gospel and we cannot react with anything but love and charity.

I am the first to admit that this sort of evil, this little pettiness, these sneaking lies and attacks make me furious. I do not do well when people tell lies about me - I do less well when people attack those I love. But somehow I have to uncover reserves of love which only God can provide - somehow I have to see that it is some seed of sin or pain which is causing this reaction. I know this is going to happen, after all, if I do anything apparently well for the Gospel, something in the world will seek to quiet that voice of Christ. But I do believe in resurrection.