"This generation - and many others - were led to believe that the devil is a myth, a figure, an idea, the idea of evil. But the devil exists and we have to fight him". "The salvation that Jesus gives us is free", but we are called to defend it.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "The devil exists" and "we have to fight him" and "his", that is, the world and the passions of the flesh, "girded in the truth, armored with justice", said Pope Francis during the Mass this morning at Casa Santa Marta, commenting on a passage from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, where he speaks of the "battle" against the devil.

"Strength and courage." The Pope focused his homily on St. Paul's words that "develops Christian life in a military language". "Life in God - he said - must be defended, you must fight to carry it forward". So it takes strength and courage "to stand up and proclaim." To "move forward in your spiritual life you have to fight. It's not a simple battle, no, it's a constant conflict". Francis then stated the three "enemies of Christian life", "the devil, the world and the flesh", that is our passion, "which are the wounds of original sin".

Of course, "the salvation that Jesus gives us is free", but we are called to defend it. "What do I have to defend myself from? What do I have to do? 'Put on God's armor', Paul tells us, that which is of God protects us, to stand against the wiles of the devil. Is that clear? Of course. You cannot think of a spiritual life, a Christian life, let us say a Christian life, without resisting temptation, without fighting against the devil, without wearing this armor of God, who gives us strength and protects us".

St. Paul, the Pope, said that "our struggle" is not against the small things in life, "but against principalities and powers, that is, against the devil and his." "But this generation - and many others - were led to believe that the devil was a myth, a figure, an idea, the idea of evil. But the devil exists and we have to fight him. Paul says, I tell you! the Word of God says so. But we are not so convinced. And then Paul describes this armor of God, the different parts of this great armor of God. He says: Be firm, therefore, be steadfast, girded in truth '. This is God's armor: the truth".

"The devil is a liar, he is the father of liars, the father of lies". And as St. Paul says, we must be "girded in the truth, armored in justice". So, "you cannot be a Christian without continually working to be just. You cannot." One thing that "would help us a lot," he said, "would be if we asked ourselves whether we believe or not". If I believe "a little 'yes and a little' no, if 'I'm a little' worldly and believe a little?". "Without faith you cannot go forward, you can not defend the salvation of Jesus?". We "need this shield of faith," because "the devil does not throw flowers at us" but "flaming arrows" to kill us. We must therefore take "the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God." We must pray constantly, be vigilant "with prayer and supplication".

"Life is a military campaign. Christian life is a battle, a beautiful battle, because when God wins in every step of our lives, it gives us joy, a great happiness: joy that the Lord has won for us, its gratuitousness of salvation. But yes, we are all a bit 'lazy, no, in this battle, and allow ourselves to be led astray by passions, by some temptations. That is because we are sinners, all of us! But do not be discouraged. Courage and strength, because the Lord is with us".

 

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