FACING SATAN WITH STRONG FAITH
The theme for our meditation today is: Facing Satan with Strong Faith. In a particular celebration of the Holy Mass with elementary school students, the priest in his homily explained that the fear of God was very important for the believers. The fear of God means we are afraid to offense and disappoint God. There was a boy who has just received the First Communion raised his hand and said: “We must fear God, but we must not fear Satan”.
Fear of someone or something can be understood as something we expect from there. For example, teachers are feared by students because it is expected that no punishment be given to them. Meanwhile, no fear of something or someone should be understood that they are useless, or they do not have anything to be worried. We do not consider and expect anything from them. This kind of fear naturally applies to Satan or devil.
Satan indeed should not scare us. In line with the statement of that elementary student, there are at least two points we need to reflect upon. The first is that we say no to Satan. Saying no to Satan means rejecting him because nothing can be expected of him. We don't have to give him a chance or opportunity to dominate us. Its aim is that we decide to leave behind sin and all satanic influences, and to choose to enter the house of God. In the first reading, it says that the prophet Joel called for the priests to be exemplary in obedience, loyalty and sincerity with God. This is the best choice to enter into glory and fellowship in the house of God.
The second is to say yes to Jesus. Saying yes to Jesus can be expressed negatively, which is when we fear Him every time in the moment of temptation that can lead us astray and we may lost His path and light. We find it heartbreaking to deliberately go against the commandments and teachings of Jesus, which means we dare to choose to say yes to Satan. Jesus says in the today's Gospel in this way: “If we are not with Him, we are against Him”.
We can express positively when we say yes to Jesus in the manner, we always have positive thoughts, feelings, desires and tastes, that are motivated by joy, hope and optimism. This spiritual aspect of our faith expression must be strong, which of course makes our bodies also able to survive when we should face the devil. Satan in fact can not move any step against Jesus, and we should also do the same, because we have faith in Jesus.
May we as individuals and communities be more capable and brave to face Satan.
Let's pray. In the name of the Father... Almighty God, strengthen us to have more courage and strength of Jesus Christ in the face of the power of Satan and all his evil influences. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit... In the name of the Father...