Evil is real and fatal

Demons have played a large part in mythology, books, movies, and even music. Films such as “Paranormal Activity” and “The Exorcist” have made demons something to fear. Movies, however, rarely scratch the surface of just how evil these corrupt former servants of God can be.

Everywhere the Bible sees a great conflict between the forces of God and of good, on the one hand, and those of evil led by Satan on the other. In today’s gospel, Jesus is accused of having an alliance with Beelzebub, the chief of the devils. The Lord rejects such accusations as baseless and untrue. But what both Jesus and his accusers acknowledge is that the devil is real, present in the world and perpetually trying to destroy humans’ lives.

In Christianity, devils and demons are evil or harmful supernatural beings. Devils are generally regarded as the adversaries of God. Aware of the real presence of the devil in the world, St. Paul warns and exhorts the Ephesians community to be followers of God, and walk in love. He commands them to walk away from evil behavior such as fornication, all uncleanness or covetousness, to imitate the life of the saints; because no unclean person hath any inheritance in the kingdom of God. These evil things cause God’s wrath. Be ye not partakers with them, for ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the lord.

Inspired by St. Paul’s exhortation, we intend to travel light, to awake from our sleep, arise from our dead hopes, to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.