Our ghostly foes

NOW that the ECQ is extended to May 15, let’s be more

skillful in dealing with the extended condition of our restricted

lifestyle. And among the things to consider are what we may refer to

as our ghostly foes that include not only the invisible Corona virus

but also the more nasty dark and negative thoughts we can have, our

fears, anxieties and even depression that can eat us up like worms.

            But more importantly, let us not disregard the wiles and

tricks of the bad spirits, the demons who can easily take advantage of

our predicament these days. Let’s never ignore them. They are always

around. In fact, these days I am receiving more reports of demonic

activities afflicting many people, and requests for deliverance and

exorcism have gone up. Let’s be forewarned to be forearmed.

            In the meantime, let’s continue praying that we can find

the necessary cure or vaccine for this deadly virus that has been

menacing us already for months and that we can return to some degree

of normalcy. Prayer should always be the basic weapon to use in these

times. Let’s never be tempted to abandon it, thinking that we would be

more successful if we simply rely on science, medicine and our wild

politics.

            These ghostly foes of ours should be tackled head-on. We

should not think that by ignoring them they would just go away. The

contrary is true. The more we ignore them, the more they become

stronger and more dangerous. We have to drive them away forthright.

            With these ghostly foes of ours, what we have to do is to

strengthen our spiritual and supernatural life. These trying times we

are having now are actually good occasions for us to truly live the

life in the spirit with God. We are no match against these ghostly

foes if we would just depend on our human and natural powers.

            If we live by the spirit of God, using to the hilt our

God-given faith, hope and charity, we would be convinced beyond any

trace of doubt that we have no reason to be afraid, over-anxious or

sad. God takes of everything, and he knows how to derive good from

evil. With him, everything, including our difficulties and disasters,

will always work for the good. (cfr. Rom 8,28)

            We should just train our natural powers to be enlightened,

guided and strengthened by the supernatural power of God who likes to

share it with us by precisely giving us the theological virtues of

faith, hope and charity.

            Let us have a good grip on our thoughts and feelings so

they would not stray away from the path of our faith. We should never

dare to think that we are just living on our own, that we are alone

and lonely. God is always with us. We have to feel his immense and

abiding love for us.

            Regarding the evil spirits, neither should we be too

afraid of them. They actually cannot do anything against us unless we

allow them. But we have to acknowledge that they are the smartest of

all conspirators. Just the same, they cannot do anything unless God

allows them to tempt us. And if God allows them to do that, it is

because a greater good can be derived from such situation.

  

            This is a truth of faith that should always be kept in our

mind. We have no reason to be afraid of them, but neither should we be

welcoming of them, much less, enter into some dialogue with them.

Let’s always remember that being spiritual beings, they are far

smarter than us no matter how brilliant and smart we think we are.

They can always outsmart us.

            The thing to do is to dismiss them outright. That is the

example Christ himself gave us when he was tempted after his forty

days of praying and fasting before he started his public life. (cfr.

Mt 4)