Lesson 10

The picture depicts the three life stages of an important person in the Old Testament history. Do you know who this person is?

The person depicted in the picture is Joseph, the embodiment of all goodness, the beloved son of Jacob and Rachel. He is a great person who succeeded in life by doing good and avoiding evil. Joseph’s successful life could be imbibed as our role model. Let us be enriched in goodness. Goodness is that which is morally sublime and full of virtues. Doing good means behaving with prudence, justice, fortitude, and self-control for one’s good and others as well. Goodness is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It is one of the 12 fruits that highlight the traditions of the Church (CCC 1832). Whatever repels goodness is evil. Anything we think, speak, or act against the will of God is evil.
Joseph’s life was also influenced by evil and persons of evil. How did Joseph confront such situations?  Like Joseph, filled with the power of God we must be able to resist evil and overcome it.

The factors that guided Joseph to success in life: love, patience, justice, wisdom, innocence, self-control, intelligence, God’s grace

Based on the discussion pointers, prepare and present to the class the response notes to the following questions.
Group discussion pointers
Joseph the Teenage Boy, in the Dump Pit (Gen 37:24, 25,28,36)
Joseph the Righteous, in the Dungeon. (Gen 39:21-23)
Joseph the Wise, the Lord of Egypt (Gen 41:37-56)
Joseph, the Savior of the Household (Gen 45:1-23)
What are the virtues of Joseph?
What benefits did Joseph get for doing good?
What blessings did others receive on account of Joseph’s goodness?
What happened to Joseph’s siblings and the King’s chief cook?


Life In Christ and War Against Satan
Christians are obliged to overcome the temptations and fight against the forces of evil. St. Paul reminds us that Christian life is a war against the forces of evil. Therefore, he exhorts us to put on the whole armor of God and be strengthened to resist any wiles of the devil.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph 6:10-11).

•  God is the source of goodness and all that is good comes from God. So let us make the divine goodness our habit.
•  Let us resist Satan the embodiment of evil, remaining in goodness and growing in holiness.
•  The Second Vatican Council teaches us likewise: As participants in the royal mission of the Messiah, every Christian is obliged that by true penance and a holy life they might conquer the reign of sin in themselves (Church 36).

"Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like aroaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour" (1 Pet 5:7-8).

Jesus Our Model

• Jesus by acquiring strength through forty days of fasting and prayer and with the help of the Word of God, defeated the temptations of Satan to act against the will of God (Mt. 4:1-11). Likewise, Jesus began his public life after he triumphed over Satan.
• He continued his war against evil by casting out demons from the possessed ones (Mk 1:21-28).
• Through his passion, death, and resurrection the Messiah defeated the supremacy of Satan forever. Therefore, Satan cannot attain the ultimate victory over goodness.
• Jesus fought constantly against the evils in the society such as the wrong practices of Sabbath, the conducting of business inside Jerusalem temple, the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.
• Jesus is our model who has overcome the temptations and bore the persecutions. Like Jesus, let us also courageously fight against evil.

"If we are not resisting evil, we are encouraging it by our silence. Because in the absence of courageous Christians, the evil spreads and the goodness disappears.” Let us implement what Pope Francis told the youth in the Vatican on August 1, 2018
 

“For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12).

How can a person tell whether his action is good or bad? Whatever be the circumstances, if his goal and the means are good his action will be good (YOUCAT 291).

The Various Levels of The Christian War Against Evil

The war against the internal forces of evil                                                                      The war against the external forces

1. The War Against the Internal Forces of Evil
Addiction is a disordered attachment to persons, things and ideas. The internal force of evil is the lust of the flesh within ourselves. We should be able to resist and defeat its dominance and temptations. We, who are in this world yet not of this world, are called to belong to God and to live according to his will as we are children of God, members of the Church, and inheritors of heaven through Baptism. Therefore, we should fight against the lust of the flesh. Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, exhorts us likewise:
"For this reason, the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law- indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God"(Rom8:7-8).
 

‘Jesus is our role model in our war against evil’. Explain.

Discuss and find the goodness that today’s world loses because of the influence of evil, and present it in the class.

The Carnal Desires We Need to Fight Against
“Fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these”(Gal5:19-21).

2. The War Against the External Forces of Evil
Our fight is against two types of external forces
a. Satan          b. Social Evil

A.  Fight Against Satan

• Satan, the source of all evil is the incarnation of evil and the power against man. He is a person and a spirit.
• He was a murderer from the beginning for he is a liar and father of lies, a dangerous enemy who cheats the whole universe (Jn 8:44, Rev 12:4).
• Satan fought against God and deprived himself of the divine life and the existence of goodness, plotting to make man go astray from God and trapping him into his great fall, thus making man’s life sorrowful, miserable, and destructive. Seeing this reality existing before him Jesus prayed for his disciples thus: “I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one” (Jn 17:15).

“Mastery of the moment is mastery over life” (Marie Von Ebner- Eschenbach) (YOUCAT 405)

Is Satan a myth or a reality? What understanding do we require?

The temptations of Jesus were unique though it was a concise replication of the temptations Adam had in paradise and the people of Israel faced in the desert. Christ reveals himself as God’s Servant, totally obedient to the divine will (CCC 539). The Church identifies itself with this mystery of the desert experience of Jesus every year during the 50 days of the Lenten season.

•  These days, Satan enters our lives in a very attractive way. Satan who destroys the human race and the cosmos is the cause and architect of evil. The power of Satan is, nonetheless, not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit, but still a creature (CCC 395).
•  Several people discard the existence of Satan. Similarly, some people believe and live in fear that Satan is the root cause of all problems and deficiencies in the world. Both these thoughts are not correct. The ultimate reality is that our God is omnipotent and victorious over everything. Therefore, if we make a conscious dependence on God, we can save ourselves from the penetrable evil in us.
•  Satan through his craftiness, is creating faith disruptions in and around us. These days, Satan worship and Ouija board gaming are the main faith-disrupting tools. We should act vigilantly against them. Discarding unnecessary curiosity and interest in hidden secrets is essential for personality development in faith.

"Drug peddlers are  sellers of death” Pope St. John Paul II.
"The use of drugs leads man to destruction and creates disastrous consequences in the various strata of society. Consumption of the drug gives an extreme desire to run away from problems and to seek momentary pleasures in life” (Pope Francis).
 

Satan Works on 4 Different Levels in Human Beings

Oppression -  Some persecution / harassment of Satan
Obsession - Excessive desires that do not leave the mind
Temptation -  Inclination towards persons or things
Possession -  Possessing and controlling persons or things

"We know that we are God’s children and that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one" (1 Jn 5:19). Jesus teaches through the prayer “Our Father” that the weak human beings who are powerless to resist the wicked should cling to God in the hour of trials. Therefore, we shall pray to the almighty God to free us from all disasters and evils of this world.
"The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” (Rom16:20).

Sin originates in the human hearts; it tends to rotten the social systems, in the course of time badly affecting the entire social life itself. It also paves way to other related evils, negatively affecting behavior of individuals, their decisions and actions (The Social Concern of the Church, 36).

Satan Worship
Satan worship or the black mass is a way of adoration filled with wickedness to please Satan and to express blasphemy. They cannot give any permanent goodness or benefits. The satanic slavery and the consequent effects of hell are awaiting the Satan worshippers. Consequently, antisocial activities and drug trafficking become the root cause of the various types of criminal activities. Those who participate in this sacrifice of evil become slaves and victims of Satan beyond salvation.
 The freedom, sonship of God, and holiness we have received from the shedding of the blood of Messiah is not to be surrendered to the devil. We need not fear neither Satan nor of his spirits. Because Jesus has attained victory over Satan through his passion, death and resurrection. God is the only one to be adored. Worship of God will transform us to live in this world in full contentment, hope and peace.

Ouija board
The Ouija board is based on the illusion that the spirits of the dead can be invoked under a special atmosphere with the help of a Ouija board and talk to them. According to the teachings of the Messiah the spirits of the dead will never visit those living and will not wander about on the earth. Similarly, one is unable to summon the spirit of the dead. The possibilities behind the enchantment of the Ouija board are mental disorders comprising of hallucination and delusion and satanic presence. This pushes people to unreasonable phobia, severe psychiatric disorder, suicidal tendency, mental depression, loss of faith, satanic evils and addiction to drugs.

We can save the souls of the diseased by calling upon their spirits and preaching the Gospel. Is this statement right or wrong? Why?

Different Social and Structural Evils

1. Violence
2. Injustice
3. Differentiation
4. Oppression of woman
5. Alcoholism
6. Drug
7. Consumerism
8. Media abuse
9. Child labour
10. Cyber crimes
11. Unscientific waste management
12. Religiopolitical terrorism
13. Environmental pollution etc.

b. War Against Social Evils

•  Social Evil and Structural Sin are the established structures and powers that originated and remained due to the sins of numerous people which destroyed many. These are wrong social structures that exploit human, do injustice to human and force the public to do evil.
•   These sins may not be crimes that one does individually with full knowledge and freedom but they are participants in the evil-filled social structure to which they belong.
•   Social evil thrives when moral values are denied universally. For example, the cast and creed differentiation that existed in our country for centuries denied justice of various types. Many people were prey to exploitation and atrocities.
•   Every Christian is rested with the responsibility to strongly respond against the various socio-structural evil. Jesus fought against the social evils by casting out and rebelling against them.
•   Being the disciples of the Messiah, our mission is to respond and declare war against and completely eradicate the culture of consumerism, the tendency for violence, and the sexual anarchy forced upon by the modern media and others.  It is not easy to eradicate the established social structural evil.
•  Before we try to eradicate the social structure, first we should aim to have a change of mind. Let us also respond against the social evils. We can respond against the social evils in three ways.

Ideological

Let us inculcate an awareness of the social evil among the people and a mental attitude against it through seminars, discourses, tableau and media.

Organisational

Let us unite like-minded people and creatively fight against social evil. Through these progressive steps we could influence the people and change their mental attitude.

Cultural

Let us try to nurture a counterculture against this social evil which is emerging as a special culture. Religion and cultural organizations have a vital role to play in this matter

How many levels are there for the war against evil? Describe them

Make action plans against alcohol and drugs in groups. Present them in the class and execute them in the parish.

How does St. Paul the Apostle teach to fight against evil?

Laziness is the biggest trap Satan prepares for the youth (St. John Bosco).

“By the same charity that enkindles in us, the Eucharist preserves us from future mortal sins” (CCC 1395).


The Spiritual Weapons of War Against the Evil
In our war against evil, the important means and the weapons we need to use shouldn’t be material. On the contrary it should be divine. Jesus asked us to win evil by good.
St. Paul through his letter to Ephesians is teaching us of what all weapons of God Christians have to wear to resist Satan and his shack tricks.
"Stand, therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the Gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph 6:14-17).


 

Things We Need to Be Alert to  Defeat the Power of The Evil

1. Be Vigilant Against the Evil
Satan always enters our lives to tempt us to do evil and not to do good. Jesus says: “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial” (Lk 22:40). Even if one overcomes the temptation of the devil once, he will come again and again with new tricks. Jesus has taught that the evil spirit once left the person will come back still stronger.Therefore, one should be able to overcome the temptations of Satan and forge ahead in goodness undergoing spiritual introspection daily and seeking advice from spiritual fathers.

2. Strengthen Through Sacraments
There is no substitute for sacraments in Christian life. Through sacraments, we receive the grace to resist one’s tendency to choose evil. We, the children of God through Baptism are constantly been cleansed and strengthened by the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Qurbana. Receiving the Holy Eucharist in the Holy Qurbana keeps us away from sin and unites us with the Messiah. The Sacrament of Reconciliation absolves our sins.

3. Live According to the Word of God
To win our battle against evil we should take the sword, the Word of God. One who listens to the Word of God and lives accordingly is likened to the wise man who built his house on the rock. He cannot be destroyed by any adverse powers (Mt7:25). Likewise, when we live according to the Word of God, we become strong. The Word of God should be with us always like a lamp to the feet and light to the path (Ps 119:105). Therefore, we should read the Word of God, meditate on it, use it, and live it. One should understand properly the Word that is read and try to live according to it.

4.    Be Powerful Through Constant Prayer and Fasting
Jesus defeated Satan by fasting and prayer. Jesus precisely taught that we cannot be saved from the trap of the devil without prayer, penance and fasting. At every day-break from the moment one rise up, one should pray for the grace to grow in goodness. One should participate with zeal in the Holy Qurbana and the traditional family prayer without break. Seeking the intercession of Mother Mary, saints and guardian angels help us a lot to defeat the evil, to grow in goodness and to become holy. It is through constant prayer and fasting that we make it our own the vital power of God needed to grow in goodness, resist evil and become holy.

5. Live in Communion
Whether it is to grow in goodness or to battle against the evil, life in a community and united effort are inevitable for attaining success. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil” (Eccle 4:9). When we work unitedly, we are able to accomplish greater goodness than we do it singly.
Fellowship in the parish level is of great importance in Christian life. Letter to Hebrews reminds us that we should participate in Church meetings unfailingly (Heb 10:24-25).Joining with the associations and voluntary organizations of the schools in their fight against the social evils, will help in one’s own growth and to do good for the society. We also should be alert not to join those organisations opposing the values of Christianity and encouraging the acts of violence. Let us be united in resisting the evil, growing in goodness and becoming saints.
Most of those who have been trapped by evil are living in tears and deep depression. Initially though enchanted, they are enslaved by severe disappointment and depression. We, the disciples of Jesus have the responsibility to bring them back to life.

"May my heart be blameless in your statutes, so that I may not be put to shame'' (Ps 119:80).

He said to them, “This kind can come out only through prayer” (Mk 9:29).

What aspects should we Christians focus on in order to overcome the forces of evil?

What are the steps we need to keep in mind to nurture fellowship in the parish? Discuss and present it in the class.

"We should never allow even a day to pass by without doing a good deed and be persistent in it”  (St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara).

My Convictions
1.    By God’s grace I will be able to overcome and defeat the powers of evil.
2.    Christians are indebted to overcome the temptations and fight against the powers of evil.
3.    Jesus is my model in the battle against the evil.

Let Us Read the Word of God
The Gospel According to
Luke Chapters 11-15

Let Us Illumine Our Hearts
"Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good" (Rom 12:21).

My Resolution
Memorise at least one Word of God every week and practice it in life.