Numb. 11:25-29; Jas. 5:1-6; Mk. 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
In the Bible this battle has
been vividly explained by the story Kain and Abel. Kain becomes filled with
jealousy and kills his brother.
There is a battle going on in
the lives of each of us, a battle between good and evil. At the end of that
battle we will either hear Jesus say, "you are mine" or “Go
away." Through his cross Jesus has won the battle but it is up to us now
to accept his grace and live as those redeemed by Jesus. There are
manifestations of grace and manifestations of evil all around us but we can
take the side of Jesus in the battle for our lives by overcoming sin and
temptation.
How do we overcome sin and temptation? In the Gospel Jesus said, "if your hand should cause you to sin cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled than to have two hands and go to hell… if your foot should cause you to sin
cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell…if you eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell…" (Mark 9:43,45,47)Of course, we do not cut off our hands or feet or pluck out our eyes. But
if something is leading us into temptation and sin then we must avoid that. If
one is tempted to drink avoid occasions where he is exposed to it. If you are
tempted to be lazy avoid that situation and try to involve in creative actions.
If one is tempted to be dishonest avoid that company and seek company of good
people.
Apart from avoiding occasions of sin we can also strengthen ourselves
against evil in many ways. We can pray to overcome evil. The greatest prayer is
the Mass. During one of his Wednesday audiences in 1983 Pope John Paul said,
"Every Eucharistic Celebration is stronger than all the evil in the
Universe. It means real, concrete accomplishment of redemption and even deeper
reconciliation of sinful man with God in prospect of a better world."
Our Lady has repeatedly told us in her apparitions that the Rosary is great
weapon against Satan. Holy Water is a powerful
sacramental that helps protect us from evil. When a priest blesses Holy Water
he asks God to protect us from evil when we use the Holy Water.
The Gospel
gives a fourfold repetition of a warning: any amount of physical suffering is
better than sin or causing others to sin. It is with these highly visual
warnings that Mark rounds off his teaching on discipleship.
May Jesus
help us to remain holy and be part of his redemptive work.
Satish