There is terror everywhere we turn. It is almost as if we are not able to make a move without hearing of tragedies that ultimately could have been avoided. We live in a world that is becoming increasingly full of resentment, hate, and consumed with acts of violence. This is NOT the message that Christ wanted for us. But make no mistake this is the work of Satan and we must find strength to resist it. Now we hear of terror all year long, and most of the time the Catholic Church is swift to come to the aid of those affected, as this is what our faith is founded upon—CHARITY! But when the terror and act of violence comes around the Holiest of Days to the Christian faithful, we must see it for what it is. It is nothing more than the Satan’s attack on the Christian Faithful.
Creating fear and destruction is Satan’s way at getting to us. It is a way to distract us from the message of God, brought to us through Christ our Lord. We must find ways to center ourselves towards the message of the Gospel. We can do this through unity. The Unity with our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. The best way to find this unity is to share in the celebration of the Eucharist. By attending the celebration, and through participation in the most Holy Sacrifice of the Eucharist, we develop a strong sense of faith. Through this growth in faith we are able to build up defenses that enable us to guard off and conquer the attacks that Satan sends forth. It is through this personal development that our witness to Christ becomes seen in the community around us. It is from that that we evangelize and bring others to the moving and powerful message of God.
Terror will always exist. It existed in the days of the Early Christians, ending with extreme violence—something that we see echoed even today. However, we cannot let the terror win. We must build our defenses through prayer, meditation, and spiritual growth/development. Only then can we begin to walk the path of defeating the evil and wicked attacks of Satan upon the world.
Please join with me in prayer for those affected by terror and attacks on the Catholic Christian faithful, and Christians all around the world:
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Dr. Lawrence V. McCrobie 