Pope: In the desert Jesus obeys the prompting of the Holy Spirit

Patricia Ynestroza – Vatican City

Jesus,”He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil» (Mt 4.1). The initiative is not Satan’s, but God’s. Pope Francis began his catechesis today: Jesus goes into the desert obeying the prompting of the Holy Spirit, he does not fall into the trap of the enemy. When the experiment was successful, he – it is written – returned to Galilee “by the power of the Holy Spirit.”LC 4,14).

A strange phenomenon

Today’s biblical text is a “strange phenomenon associated with the devil,” Francis said. At some cultural level “it is simply believed not to exist.”

“It will be a symbol of a collective unconscious, or in short, an allegory, but the devil’s greatest trick is to make people believe that he is not,” he added: “The technical and secular world is full of magicians, occultists, spiritualists, astrologers, sellers of amulets and charms and, Unfortunately, it is full of real satanic sects.

Mighty temptation for the saints to face

The Pope affirmed that the strongest proof of Satan’s existence is not in sinners or fanatics, but in the saints! But, he said, the devil is also present and active in some of the extreme and “inhuman” forms of evil and evil we see around us.

Pope Francis emphasized that the battle against the evil spirit is won as Jesus won in the desert: by the blows of the Word of God: «is written»: Thus he answers the temptation three times. And he advises each of us another method, vigilance, as St. Peter recommends: “Be sober, be vigilant. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1B 5,8). And Saint Paul, for his part, advises: “Give no chance to the devil” (Eff 4,27).

Christ has given us the Holy Spirit for our victory

According to one Father of the Church – confirmed by Francis – the devil is “a dog chained; “In spite of danger, he cannot bite anyone except those who approach him, he can bark, he can provoke, but he cannot bite anyone.” And he cited modern technology, which offers many positive sources to be admired, but also countless ways to “give the devil a chance,” and the pope noted that many fall into his trap. An example of this is Internet pornography, behind which there is a very prosperous market and it is a strongly widespread phenomenon, which Christians, however, must be cautious and strongly reject, he stressed.

Blessed by Pope Francis

“The awareness of the devil’s work in history should not discourage us. Here too faith and security must be the final thought. Christ has defeated the devil and given the Holy Spirit. . Finally, he emphasized that the same work of the enemy will turn to our advantage, if by God’s help we put it at the service of our purification and pray with those there:

So let’s hear the Holy Spirit with the words of the song Veni is creative:

“Remove the enemy from us, give us peace soon. Be our guide to avoid all evil.