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Continuation of part 1 chapter 121... Protection: Against Cosmic Invasion and Free Will Yielding Influences        "Possession" is of rare occurrence but spiritually possible to some. The Bible speaks even of the return of evil spirit previously casted out [Luke 24-28; Matthew 12:43-45]. The daily and constant battle ground of the spiritual warfare is on the FREE WILL of man. The influencing factors[good or evil] to the free will determine man's decision and actions and his legal and spiritual responsibility to his actions. Temptation is the beginning and sin, the consummating act. The radio and TV viewers/hearers must be protected in the spiritual warfare, should spiritual warfare goes highly technological [ hi-tech]. Addicts due to their proneness to the Satanic side likewise need spiritual protection. What should be the needed spiritual protection considering that man is dealing this time with supernatural/paranormal spirits?        Should running away from it the best remedial step to cope with this paranormal situation? We should learn to resist the Devil. Not run away from it. Our offensive and defensive actions in resisting and defeating the power of the Evil One are the following.       First, We must arm ourselves with the armor of protection. "Therefore, take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil way, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shot your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quence all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all time in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication."[Eph. 6:13-18] and be invulnerable to sin.       Second, We should be partakers of the sacraments of the Church especially the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, Eucharist, Marriage, etc. They are sources of sanctifying grace and administered by the Holy Orders of the Catholic Church.       Third, Our Obedience to the teaching authority of the Church in its totality, not accepting them selectively. Disobedience brings downfall of man. Obedience by the Blessed Mary and Jesus Christ to the Will of God, the Father brings salvation. Obedience is the precious key that opens the fate of Heaven widely. God also delegates some of His authority to certain people and positions. Thus, parents have God-given authority as well as duty toward children. Teachers have certain authority over students. The government also has some authority over the people for the sake of public good. Regarding spiritual and moral matters, God gave the teaching authority to the Church. Jesus confirmed this with the following words to His disciples: "Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me reject the one who sent me." [Luke 10:16]. This is the reason why we cannot negotiate with the Church on spiritual and moral matters, but must obey her accepting all here official teachings instead of accepting them selectively.        Fourth, We should believe in the truth for it sets us free. Respect the official teachings of the Church, not in the standard of mankind but in the standard of the Church [Magisterium]. Thus. "It has been the humans who have become proud and lost faith in God's revelations and His power. As people began reasserting their egos- their own ideas, preferences and judge even on spiritual and moral matters, throwing away what they have been receiving from God through His Church, the moral standards in the world were crumbling down, the spiritual dimensions of human life was being replaced by materialistic and hedonistic vanities and human dignity as being trampled upon at all phases of the life. In fact, underlying all the problems on the church and in the world today is the contamination of human minds with the ideas perceptions and beliefs that are not from God. Humans have been eating the apple of pride and independence again, forgetting that God alone is the source of all truth, life and Love [Outline, supra,2].       The foundation of our life as Christians is our faith in the truths that Christ revealed and entrusted to His church. So, we profess and accept as truth all the official teachings by the Magisterium. Because we believe that Christ is our Savior and the Truth itself and also because he promised that the Holy Spirit will guide and protect His Church [John 14:26], we accept that the official teachings of the Church on matters of faith and morals are totally free from errors....In order to attain salvation and eternal life, we need firm, absolute truths that will remain true for all eternity." If we do not know God, we cannot love Him. If we do not know His Commandments, we cannot do His will. If we do not know the truths from God, we will be at the mercy of the devil and all his errors that will only lead us to confusion, corruption, violence, destruction and despair.       Fifth, We respects persons in spiritual authority; so we respect, love, obey and pray for the priests. Priests [the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops and priests] are the backbone of Christ's Church and the core elite unit in Christ's army against the devil. They are human beings also, but they were given the power and mission from Christ to continue His Work of Redemption for the faithful by celebrating Mass, consecrating bread and wine into the Living body and Blood of Jesus during Mass, forgiving people's sins, administering other Sacraments and teaching they revealed truths to the faithful and the world. They are the little Christ’s who have given up everything to follow the Lord and to serve His people. This is why we must respect, obey, love and support them and also constantly pray for them and offer up sacrifices for them so that they may be protected from the devils' attacks and become saintly priests [Outline p. 8].       Sixth, We pray and pray fervently. Our Lord said: "Without me, you can do nothing. Human minds with the ideas perceptions and beliefs that are not from God. Humans have been eating the apple of pride and independence again, forgetting that God alone is the source of all truth, life and Love [Outline, supra. p. 2]. All the truth, life, goodness and love originate from God. He is infinitely merciful, always willing to bestow abundant blessings upon His children. Therefore we must always ask our Heavenly Father for graces for ourselves and others. We should ask for His favors as His beloved and trusting children. God will not grant special graces, unless we keep asking for them.[St. Alphonsus de Liquori, THE GREAT MEANS OF SALVATION AND OF PERFECTIONS] Also, we must not only ask and pray for our protection from evil contamination but also the fulfillment of God's will in each one of us and in our world. As Jesus said: "Seek first the kingdom of God and his justice and all these things shall be added unto to you." [Matthew 6:33].       Seventh, We participate in the redemptive suffering of Jesus Christ accomplished His work of human redemption with His passion and Death on the Cross. For others, salvation is automatic provided you have faith. That is not the teaching of the Church. Faith without action is dead [James 2:3]. Salvation of each individual is not guaranteed the moment the individual declares Jesus as the Lord. The Devils make such declaration but they were not saved [James 2:19-20]. Jesus said, "Why do you call me, "Lord, Lord," but not do what I command?"[Luke 6:46]. Christ teaching is not only full of paradoxes but teaching opposite to what His people want, desire and admire. Thus,       "The teachings that Christ left to us seem to be full of paradoxes. To follow Jesus, we must deny ourselves and carry our cross [Luke 9:23]. Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Christ's sake will find it [Matthew 16:25]. If anyone wishes to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all [Mark 9:34]. We must love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us [Matthew 5:44]. And to lead us to the glory of Heaven, Christ suffered a most painful death Christ's teachings and examples of the Cross have never been popular because, they teach us the value of the opposite of what we usually want and admire.       Nowadays, the Saints are not very popular, either, because they reached high levels of holiness not through self-centered accomplishments, but through humility, self-denial and charity. But the eternal truth will never change and cannot be altered for our convenience. The way of salvation is still the way of the cross. Sacrifices and self-denial are still the only true signs of love.[Outline p. 4]. Our generation wanted salvation without suffering, for our own convenience which is contrary to the "way" of Jesus- redemptive sufferings. Thus, "Our joy without penance, love without sacrifices, the Mass mainly as a joyful celebration rather than a renewal of Our Lord's Sacrifice on the Cross, Holy Communion with no Confessions, de-emphasis on Purgatory, membership in the Church without full obedience to her teaching authority, and the like. But aren't we deceiving ourselves with a false sense of security by compromising and diluting what is from God for our own convenience." [Outline, p.5]       Eight, We live a consecrated life- living in poverty, humility, obedience and purity, throwing away all our vain attachments- attachments to wealth, fame, achievements, respect by others, pleasure, comfort, hobbies, sports, and especially, the desire to satisfy our ego. In lieu thereof, we should strive to free ourselves from all the vain attachments, we should try to develop a habit of loving other people and accepting our crosses and duties for the love of God.       Finally, We should perform charitable acts and services. As scripturally recorded: "... Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven, then come and follow me" [Mark 10:17-22]. Jesus during His sojourn show the way for "caring others"- Who is my neighbor?"[Luke 10:20-37]. The importance of this earthly charitable works is the basis of the Final Judgment to come, the awaited Second Advent of Christ: ""I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink I was stranger and you received me in your homes, naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, imprison and you visited me. The righteous will then answer him. When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothed you? When did we ever see you sick or imprison and visit you? The king will reply, I tell you, Whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me."[Matthew 25:31-46].       The foregoing questions to be asked by Our Judge in the incoming Judgment Day are not solely and merely "faith" but actual, tangible and concrete charitable deeds/works. Faith, without actual deed is not enough for salvation. Catholics believe that faith must be supplemented with good works, as against faith only by some religious congregations . Henceforth, if we do all of the charitable deeds , we are protected against the Evil One and above all, blessed by our Lord and God for we do all of them because of our obedience and Love to Him and our neighbors. Then, hopefully, we hear the Lord's comforting/satisfying words: "You are not far, from the Kingdom of God."[Mark 12:28-34a].       Praise the Lord! Back | Home | Next

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