I don't like to think about evil. Oftentimes I'd rather pretend it doesn't exist. Yet, I saw "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" this weekend and realized that the devil is everywhere. Everytime I laugh about something said about another person, every curse word or evil thought I have, every moment where I refuse the Lord entrance into my life is a triumph for the devil.

I remember one Saturday breakfast when a priest asked a classmate and I to sit with these two religious nuns who were visiting the seminary. I wanted to go upstairs and get ready for the rest of the day, but I sat down and joined the conversation. They told us to be mindful of evil in the world, tangible evil that is nothing less than the devil and his demons trying to undo the works of the Lord and destroy the faith of His people. They told us stories of how they were driven off the road on their way to speeches they were giving, not citing the experience as bad luck, but satan and his minions at work.

I know satan is at work in our world. The cruel comments that I uttter are issued through my free will, but he errupts in glee when I fall to his temptations. The world is saturated with distortions of the truth: abortion, contraception, and euthenasia for convenience, sex for pleasure whenever and with whomever, women (and men) feeling the need to look a certain way and possess certain materials in order to feel fulfilled, but not truly. We make it our priority to reach an elevated plain of success, to look a certain way, to be so consumed in searching for false love (either relationships or posessions) that we fail to see the love that is right before us.

 God does not look on with joy at the way His ultimate creation, mankind, is being treated. Anorexia, suicide, and alcohol abuse do not please God. They put Him into such a grevious state that He was willing to send His only Son down so that our sins could be lifted from us, and then shared His Body and Blood with us, the Ultimate Sacrifice. Satan loathes anything that turns mankind towards Christ, and away from the twisted, spiteful way of the evil realm.

The sisters told us to fight spiritual warfare against evil. Stand up for what you believe in, and arm yourself with Christ and His Church. We may stumble, but we will always be met with open arms. Unconditional love, folks.

Go to http://www.glennbeck.com/audio/free-audio.shtml and scroll down to hear the Passion told to Pink Floyd. It's awesome, and amazingly spiritual.