Lie: You don’t have to worry about Satan (he isn’t real).
The devil wants us to believe he is not real. His work in this world is much easier if we simply think he does not exist. How do we fight an adversary if we don’t even know he exists? Yet as Thigpen writes,
“The reality of demonic powers has been a constant doctrine of the Catholic Church ever since it was founded by Christ through his apostles. They and their ancestors spoke and wrote about Satan repeatedly. Through the centuries, the great teachers of the Church have consistently affirmed that Satan is real” (MSW page 6).
There are many references to the devil in scripture. The following are just a few:
“Be sober, be watchful! For your adversary, the Devil, like a roaring lion, goes about seeking someone to devour. Resist Him, steadfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9).
“Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of the light” (2 Cor.11:14)
“But I fear lest, as the serpent seduced Eve by his guile, so your minds may be corrupted and fall from a pure devotion to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3).
“Indeed what I have forgiven – if I have forgiven anything – I have done for your sakes, in the person of Christ, so that we may not be defeated by Satan; for we are not unaware of his devices” (2 Cor. 2: 10-11).
Although we need to be aware of the devil’s constant harassment, we also need to remember that Christ won the battle. The sacraments allow us to draw our strength from God because through them we receive His Grace. So by staying close to the sacraments, to the Holy Eucharist and to confession, we stay close to Christ and we are able to fight off the devil more effectively.
Let us pray for strength and for God’s present help in danger. Most importantly let us always remember that God’s mercy is abundant and that He is with us always.
“You draw near this day to battle against your enemies; Let not your heart faint; do not fear, or tremble, or be in dread of them; for the Lord your God is He that goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.” (Dt 20:3-4).