Читать книгу Deliver us from the Evil one - Bernardo Olivera - Страница 17

The Church’s combat has not ended. It continues and will continue until the end of time. “All of human life, whether individual or collective, shows itself to be a dramatic struggle between good and evil, between light and darkness.”28 That is why the Lord taught his disciples of all times to pray, “Do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one” (Mt 6:13) and we are warned, “Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the Devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith” (1 Pet 5:8).

To conclude this whole section on the biblical foundations of spiritual combat, we can be certain that Jesus Christ, Risen from his final combat, will forever conquer the final enemy: “Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Cor 15:24-26).

All this teaching of Sacred Scripture on the struggle against Satan makes us ask a question that needs an urgent reply, “What should we think of today’s cult of Satan, Holy Death, Sudden Death, Santa Muerte or Electronic Dance Music?”

23 In Rom 16:20; 1 Cor 5:5; 7:5; 2 Cor 2:11; 11:14; 12:7; 1 Thes 2:18.

24 1 Tim 3:7. See also: ibid 3:6.11; 2 Tim 2:26; Titus 2:3.

25 See 15:17-19 and 17:25-26.

26 666 signifies “Caesar-Nero” according to the numerical value of the Hebrew numbers. With the numerical value of the Greek numbers, it is “Caesar-God.”

27 Mt 24:15; Mk 13:14, from the apocalyptic discourse of Jesus concerning the final time.

28 GS 13.