Devils exist

“What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”

These are words of two demoniacs who approached Christ when he went to a certain place. We all know what Christ did with them. (cfr. Mt 8,28-34) The episode is a clear reminder to all of us that devils exist and all they do is to tempt us, if not possess us. But just the same, we should not be afraid because as long as we go to God, they can do no harm on us though we may have some suffering for a while.

We should never take the devil for granted. They are always around, ever scheming and plotting against us in many, many ways, and often in a manner that is so subtle that we may not even notice him. As St. Peter would put in his first letter: “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.” (5,8)

We should never consider the devil as a myth, or as some kind of literary device only to highlight a point in the drama of our life. He is as real as you and me. Our problem is that we think lightly or, worse, falsely of him. And so we become completely unprepared to deal with his antics.

But in spite of that unfortunate fact of life, we should remember that the devil cannot do anything against us unless allowed by God. And if allowed, it is because God in his mysterious providence can always draw a greater good from any evil the devil may cause in us.

When tempted by the devil we should avoid getting sad, because sadness makes the devil happy. We are meant to be happy, not only from time to time, but all time. Impossible? Of course, it will be impossible if we rely mainly if not solely on our own powers. But that’s not supposed to be. We are meant to be with God and to rely mainly on his powers. That way, we can always manage to be at peace and happy, which is what is ideal for all of us.

Sadness is the ally of our enemy. It makes the devil happy. It’s when we are sad, beset with worries and fears, when we become most vulnerable to our own personal weaknesses and to the wiles of the devil. We have to learn to overcome our sadness by learning how to be tough when life becomes tough.

And toughness can mean that we just abandon ourselves in the hands of God when we seem to be helpless in a given situation or predicament. We may call it a holy kind of indifference or insensitivity that is necessary for all of us to have.

We should never forget that only with God can we properly deal with our own weaknesses, and the many temptations and sins around. Only with him can we manage to resist the devil himself. Without him, we are easy prey, a sitting duck. Our earnest desire should be how we can be with God always, our union with him as strong and vibrant as ever.

Only with God can we be keenly aware of the many dangers that lurk within us and around us. Only with him can we resist the temptations and be unaffected by our weaknesses and the sins around.