What the Devil is Going On Here?

 

Mea culpa, mea culpa. While my faithful readers have been reading along, I've been derelict in writing more. I was tied up with my day job, for one thing. And I was disappointed and disgusted with Pope Francis' reaction to the liberal nuns. But this Pope still has a lot of good things to teach us—and we need all the help we can get these days.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again: It feels like Armageddon is here! One simply cannot turn on the news without seeing images of new disasters every single day. If someplace is not burning up, it's flooding. If it's not flooding, it's being swallowed up in a sinkhole or an earthquake. And, if that isn't happening, then, well, tornadoes are attacking and ripping away homes and lives with total abandon. Oh yes, indeed, the Devil is having a great time these days. And that's because Mother Nature is very angry at the human race for abusing the Earth. So, she's letting the Devil wreak havoc.

Is it really so surprising that the Pope of the Catholic Church would be thinking a lot about Satan? Is it really so surprising that he would pray over people who are suffering? Those things were the concern of Jesus Christ, so why shouldn't His emissary be equally concerned? Especially these days!

Did Pope Francis really exorcise demons out of a man? Here's a report by Nicole Winfield, of the Associated Press: 

Check out: Pope and the Devil: Francis' Fascination with Satan Leads to Suspicion He Performed Exorcism

She reports the story of a man who went limp after Pope Francis placed his hands on the man's head and said a prayer. The man's behavior was very much like that which is seen in an exorcism. Indeed, Ms. Winfield also cites an expert who says that exorcisms do not always have to conform to the prescribed rites. In addition, Ms. Winfield quotes Pope Francis as saying in his first homily as Pope back in March, that "he who doesn't pray to the Lord prays to the devil." Well, I'd say that also applies to women.

 
Pope Francis has mentioned the Devil at other times. When talking about the need for dialogue among peoples, he said: "With the prince of this world you can't have dialogue: Let this be clear!" he warned. After reading Milton's Paradise Lost, I've always viewed the Earth as the Devil's playground.


Now, here's what I think: Pope Francis may not have prayed over the man with any specific intention to cast out any demons, but, perhaps the demons in the man weren't too happy to be blessed by a Pope, so they left the man.

I would have to say that I do believe that people can be possessed by demons. It's not just the terrorists and the serial killers. It's also people who are inhumane in their actions and thoughts. Maybe they don't thrash about and vomit green pea soup, but their ideas are really demonic. Among those are people who vote to reduce aid to the poor, people who abuse their workers, and people who blame victims for the disasters that befall them. You know these people. They tell you that everything is your own responsibility, whether or not it works out for you. They blame you for your bad karma.

Now the Law of Karma is such that, yes, indeed people with bad karma will have things happen to them. However—and this is a big HOWEVER—this does not, not, not, absolutely, not mean that we are their appointed judges. Whatever punishment that was coming to such people has already happened. It is not our job to make that punishment worse. Rather, instead, it is our appointed task to show mercy and forgiveness, in the form of aid to help such people.

This is what Pope Francis teaches us when he prays for the victims of disasters or over individuals who may or may not have demons in them. He offers healing to everyone alike—both sinners and saints.

In this time of so many disasters and so much confusion, mercy and healing are needed more than ever. Armageddon is here. Souls are being taken left and right everywhere. We are left here to battle with Satan, and the best way to win that battle is to refute any temptation to be cruel and selfish. Instead, let us pray and let us extend mercy to people who have paid their karmic debts, instead of trying to judge and blame them.

That, indeed, will keep any demons away so we can win this final battle with Evil.