THIS PRESENT DARKNESS

THIS PRESENT DARKNESS
The website – cinops be gone – Friday, October 31, 2008

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

“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.” (Eph 6:12)

Saint Paul stresses that the “world ruler” of fallen humanity, of that fallen world we call “darkness,” are “principalities and powers” that are superior (in their nature) to man. (“flesh and blood”). They are the “evil spirits” those mysterious but real spiritual intelligences that Scripture calls “angels.” They are fallen angles who refuse to serve God “in the beginning” when God created “the heavens.” (Gn 1:1)

They are the enemies of the human race, and by leading men into sin, they gained a certain “power” over the fallen world. This power should be recognized, but not exaggerated God rules even the fallen world, and, especially since the victory of Christ, he limits the influence of the devil….
It is clear that human beings superior to human nature who are evil, intelligent, and ruthless have a hand in the affairs of the world. This can be seen even by looking at historical events, in which it is clear that individuals and groups have surrendered their wills to some superior, sinister power, with the result being the perpetration of evil on a monstrous scale…. 218

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HOLD YOUR GROUND

“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.” (Eph 6:13)

Jesus is the new Adam, the “new man,” the head of the “new” redeemed human race. The first Adam listened to the deceptions of the devil, disobeyed, and brought sin and death to the world… In Jesus’ death and resurrection, the defeat of the devil – promised from the beginning – accomplished. It has now become possible for us to participate in this victory…. If we “wear” Christ, if we let him live in us and through us, we will persevere in the face of any assault. 219

Praying with Saint Paul, Daily Reflections… Edited by Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P. Magnificat

GHK