BE ON GUARD FROM THE EVIL ONE
Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
My dear encountered couples:
We’re living in hard times now. I know I’m feeling very isolated, very alone, and scared. I barely leave the house. At least, I have plenty of time to do my daily reflections online remotely. I haven’t seen any of my family or friends except on Zoom. I’ve gone for walks, but the world seems like a very dangerous place right now.
Paul in his speech to the elders of the church of Ephesus, and Jesus in his prayer for his friends speak of dangers that threaten those who live in this world and try to live as God wills. “I know that when I am gone,” said Paul, “savage wolves will come among you who will not spare the flock. From your own number, men will present themselves distorting the truth and leading astray any who follow them. Be on guard. “And Jesus in his prayer for his friends: “Father, protect them, guard them from the evil one.”
Life in this world can be difficult. We have all found that out by now. Some people flirt with the idea of death in order to escape the dangers of this world. Better dead than have to live here, they think. Some people commit suicide, some say they have abortions to keep their babies from having to live in such a cruel world. Escape is their answer. That is wrong, very wrong! We all have things to do, things which can only be done by us, and while we are here. Real men and real women don’t cop out on life. They try to find out what God wants of them and they give their all.
Let us listen to another part of the prayer of Jesus for his friends: “They do not belong to the world, any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but to guard them from the evil one...As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”
We are here, willed by God, and we are here till God calls us back. Our lives are sacred, our time is sacred and short. Let’s do all the good we can while we can.
