New Crucifix
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Dear Parishioners,
In any contest it is of the utmost importance that those involved have the firm determination to win. Those who are not sure of themselves lose out. Coaches know this, he or she will handle the team with the assurance that they are going to win. The first and the Gospel are talking about the evil. Evil exists and has tremendous power We feel its strength in us and experience its sinister threat around us. We encounter corruption and pursuit of self-interests where we would expect dedication and fidelity to our faith or our work and to our relationship with our spouse.
Today’s first reading and Gospel remind us of the phenomena of the presence of evil in our life. Our theme today, though, is not to convince us there is evil in the world – that is obvious. Can we overcome it? Christian should not give up. It is that Christ has overcome the power of evil. In the first reading, God is saying there will be a constant struggle between the powers of evil and the human race. He says to the serpent, “ I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your offspring and hers.” He adds that evil will be defeated when he tells the serpent, “He (the offspring of Eve) will strike at your head, while you (the serpent) strike at his heel.” The human race will be wounded by evil – as if one’s heel is struck a blow, but the powers of evil will be fatally wounded because their head will be struck a blow. This image ;is often portrayed in the statue of Mary who is standing on a serpent or had the head of a serpent under her heel. It is her son who has struck a fatal blow against the power of evil. This is seen in the Gospel where Jesus was casting out demons.
There is only one way evil can triumph and that ;is when we deliberately blind ourselves to God’s saving work – this is what Jesus calls the sin against the Holy Spirit. The Jewish leaders refused to see the power of God at work in Jesus and said his power came from the devil. God can forgive anything except a refusal to be open to God. Such refusal in itself closes out God’s love and grace. It creates a wall God’s mercy cannot penetrate. This is why it is an eternal sin.
Fr. Jonas msc
In any contest it is of the utmost importance that those involved have the firm determination to win. Those who are not sure of themselves lose out. Coaches know this, he or she will handle the team with the assurance that they are going to win. The first and the Gospel are talking about the evil. Evil exists and has tremendous power We feel its strength in us and experience its sinister threat around us. We encounter corruption and pursuit of self-interests where we would expect dedication and fidelity to our faith or our work and to our relationship with our spouse.
Today’s first reading and Gospel remind us of the phenomena of the presence of evil in our life. Our theme today, though, is not to convince us there is evil in the world – that is obvious. Can we overcome it? Christian should not give up. It is that Christ has overcome the power of evil. In the first reading, God is saying there will be a constant struggle between the powers of evil and the human race. He says to the serpent, “ I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your offspring and hers.” He adds that evil will be defeated when he tells the serpent, “He (the offspring of Eve) will strike at your head, while you (the serpent) strike at his heel.” The human race will be wounded by evil – as if one’s heel is struck a blow, but the powers of evil will be fatally wounded because their head will be struck a blow. This image ;is often portrayed in the statue of Mary who is standing on a serpent or had the head of a serpent under her heel. It is her son who has struck a fatal blow against the power of evil. This is seen in the Gospel where Jesus was casting out demons.
There is only one way evil can triumph and that ;is when we deliberately blind ourselves to God’s saving work – this is what Jesus calls the sin against the Holy Spirit. The Jewish leaders refused to see the power of God at work in Jesus and said his power came from the devil. God can forgive anything except a refusal to be open to God. Such refusal in itself closes out God’s love and grace. It creates a wall God’s mercy cannot penetrate. This is why it is an eternal sin.
Fr. Jonas msc