Stormy Week Ahead – Be a Calming Force

I could easily be wrong, but I believe this is going to be a rough week. I happen to be in the camp that suspects the 100 years given to Satan in Pope Leo’s 1884 vision began on the day of the Miracle of the Sun in Fatima on October 13, 1917. That would mean that Satan’s 100-year unbinding concludes in just a few days. Again, just a suspicion of mine, not a belief.

No, I don’t believe a comet is going to hit the earth this week. But, something big might happen … nobody knows, but God.

However, what I do suspect is going to happen this week is that the spiritual temperature in the demonic realm is going to rise … as if that is possible for it to rise even more, based on what has been happening all around us in recent weeks and months. I suspect people, this week, are going to be especially irritable, confrontational, accusatory and backbiting.

St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians could have been written to us today …

You were running well; who hindered you from following the truth? That enticement does not come from the one who called you. A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. I am confident of you in the Lord that you will not take a different view, and that the one who is troubling you will bear the condemnation, whoever he may be … For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another. I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:7-10,13-21)

If we leave ourselves vulnerable (diminished or lost “state of grace”), we are sitting ducks to be pulled into these outbursts of fury, dissentions and factions. Also, simply not knowing what the “devil is up to” can leave us vulnerable to his tactics.

Instead, pray, fast, and put on the full armor of Christ – remain strong in a “state of grace” – and lay hold of the spiritual weapons God has given us – especially the Rosary – and be a “calming force” amidst the storms raging all around us.

As St. Paul continues to write in his Letter to the Galatians …

In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25)

Hang on and be strong in the Spirit, warriors, this could be a very challenging week.