Judges, Chapter 6, Verse 27
So Gideon took ten of his
servants and did as the LORD
had commanded him. But he was too afraid
of his family and of the townspeople to do it by day; he did it at night.
Heed the words of Saint John Paul
the Great:
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (12:21).
Evil
is never defeated by evil; once that road is taken, rather than defeating evil, one will instead be defeated by evil.
Peace is the outcome of a long and
demanding battle which is only won when evil is defeated by good. Flee what is evil and hold fast to what is
good (cf. Rom 12:9). Peace is a good to be promoted with good:
it is a good for individuals, for families, for nations and for all humanity;
yet it is one which needs to be maintained and fostered by decisions and
actions inspired by good. "Repay no one evil for evil" (Rom
12:17). The one way out of the vicious circle of requiting evil for evil is "Do
not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom 12:21).
At its deepest level, evil is a tragic rejection of the demands of love.
Moral good, on the other hand, is born of love, shows itself as love and is
directed towards love. All this is particularly evident to Christians, who know
that their membership in the one mystical Body of Christ sets them in a
particular relationship not only with the Lord but also with their brothers and
sisters. The inner logic of Christian love, which in the Gospel is the living
source of moral goodness, leads even to the love of one's enemies: "If
your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to
drink" (Rom 12:20).[1]
This novena prayer, although short is sufficient. It would be better of course to add, if time permits, three Hail Mary’s or say five times the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father, or to use some of the many well-loved novena prayers from other sources. Remember that prayers must be said with the lips in order to gain the indulgences. This novena begins on April 6 and ends on April 16.
Prayer: O dear little St. Bernadette, humble little shepherdess, who wonderingly beheld the Lovely Lady of the Grotto, pray for us to our Lady of Lourdes that she may heal us of our ills. St. Bernadette, pray for the sick and the afflicted.---Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
300
days. S. Pen., Nov. 15, 1927.
Aids in
Battle[3] Don’t give in to the Devil’s false promises
Politicians
keep their promises better than the Devil. The Devil didn’t deal out
temptations to Our Lord only. He brings these evil schemes of his to bear on
each of Jesus’ servants— and not just on the mountain or in the wilderness or
when we’re by ourselves. No, he comes after us in the city as well, in the
marketplaces, in courts of justice. He tempts us by means of others, even our
own relatives. So what must we do? We
must disbelieve him altogether, and close our ears against him, and hate his
flattery. And when he tries to tempt us further by offering us even more, then
we should spurn him all the more.
·
Many times we aren’t as
intent on gaining our own salvation as he is intent on achieving our ruin.
·
We must reject him, not
with words only, but also with works; not in mind only, but also in deed.
·
We must do none of the
things that he approves, for in that way we’ll we do all those things that God
approves.
·
Yes, for the Devil also
makes many promises, not so that he may give to us, but so that he may take
away from us. He promises us plunder, so that he may deprive us of the kingdom
of God and of righteousness. He sets out treasures in the earth as snares and
traps, so that he may deprive us both of these and of the treasures in heaven.
He would have us be rich in this life, so that we may not be rich in the next.
ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
Daily Devotions/Prayers
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