I read how Pope Francis has written and talk about the battle with the devil in Jesuit terms. In the spirituality the Jesuits, the founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola, the devil is real and discourages us from speaking up against evil with thoughts like “what can we do”. Pope Francis said” “it would be the evil one who would try to dissuade us, who would say: ‘That’s silly. That can’t be done. You’re not good enough. You couldn’t be called to that. You don’t have what it takes. You don’t have the goods to make a difference in building the kingdom.’” God tells us, he goes on to say: “Yes, you are weak. I know who you are and I call each one of you to lend your talents and energy, commitment, love and gifts to the cause of the kingdom.”

This message of the devil vs. message of God is relevant today as the media tells us the killing of one suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing and the capture of the other suspect means, as our President says, “Justice has been served.” The word justice has now become to mean retribution, revenge and punishment for suspected crimes. This is the not the justice of Jesus or of St. Ignatius.

I got another rejection to attend a talk at Marquette University from the Vice President today. This time is one to attend a history lecture on Haiti. I have been banned from Marquette University for the message of a number of persons that “Marquette Teaches Killing” in its military training programs.
Today at three St. Vincent De Paul home visits we met three families that were facing serious crisis, homelessness, severe poverty, family in prison and bureaucratic run around. Yet they all had hope and were not, as the devil would desire, pessimistic or hapless. They had not given into the devil.
The devil says “give it up” you cannot change Marquette hosting military training. Yet God says thru my conscience that I must try, break the silence and speak out. Will I listen to God within or Devil within?

Comments

(:commentboxchrono:)