The Dual Attack

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9

The father of lies attacks the human will, intellect, and memory in one of two ways.

He tempts one to make a god of himself. Convincing the man of his intellectual obesity and rightness in comparison to his fellow man. This attack compels one to look inward in pride. This attack creates hard hearts. Hard hearts turn to warring and dictatorship. Evil flourishes through subjugation and oppression, bringing the demise of souls through this evil. Making families be destroyed; Destroying communities and nations.

If the father of lies realizes a soul is too compassionate to harden their heart, he attacks the core of their very person, convincing them they are worthless and sending them into despair. This spiral of depression also destroys families, communities and nations. The ultimate goal of this kind of attack is to make the soul go so into despair, they kill themselves as the final conclusion to the worthlessness they feel.

God rejects both of these because none of it brings unity. The soul that is secure in God’s love for them, neither boasts of himself nor despairs of himself. This is because God has revealed to those that listen that looking inward during these temptations is what brings destruction. God compels us to look outward. Look toward the other. This outward looking toward the other is true love. It rests securely in The Father’s love so it recognizes the beauty of sacrifice for the other. This sacrifice is thankful. This sacrifice is born of the Eucharist which means Thanksgiving.

Do not boast because everything we have is a gift from God. Do not despair because you are loved.