Some people don’t believe that Satan is real. They don’t believe that Satan is causing much of the evil in our world today. I am not one of them. Bishop Gruss said recently at a Diocesan gathering of men that we should remember that the “enemy is the enemy!” Satan is the real enemy, and our battle is with him, ourselves, and the world. He pointed out that Joe Biden, Don Trump, leftist and rightist are not the real enemy. Satan is! No human being is our enemy. It is Satan who is causing the evil in our world that seems to be more chaotic and divided than ever.
So, how do we do battle with Satan? A common saying in sports is that the best defense is a good offence. Why wait to defend ourselves when Satan attacks, when there are things we can do now, before we are attacked?
I think the first line of defense is prayer. Another is living a sacramental life, and yet another is reading, studying, and knowing the Bible. Being part of a church and living by church teaching, not our own notions of reality, puts a real roadblock to Satanic activity. A final suggestion is to live a moral life according to Bible and Church teaching. Of course, surrounding ourselves with holy and good people helps to support us in our battle against evil. We are surrounded by our Guardian Angels, who constantly fight for us in our spiritual battle.
At the least, we ought to endeavor to avoid sin by always trying to do the right thing, not just what I think is right, but considering what Jesus and the Church teach. Why give Satan any opportunity to accuse us or cause any division among us?
Another very important offensive action in our spiritual battle with Satan is to remind ourselves that we have given ourselves to Christ and we belong to him. We belong to Jesus. He is our offense, not just our defense against Satan. “The Lord is my shepherd. Jesus, I belong to you. Protect me from Satan.”
“May the Lord bless and keep you. May He let His face shine upon you, be gracious to you and give you His peace.”
