Don’t be surprised by demons’ tricks; Angels: Day 145

The evil angels can put on a good show, says St. Augustine. But that doesn’t mean they’re better than we are. We should remember that we who are on the side of God accomplish  far greater miracles every day.

It is easy for the most worthless spirits to do things with their ethereal bodies that astonish souls weighed down by earthly bodies—even the souls of the better inclined. Earthly bodies themselves, once they are trained in skill and practice, can show us such great marvels in theater shows that those who never saw such things hardly believe them when they are told about them. Then why should it be hard for the devil and his angels, with their ethereal bodies, to make from corporeal elements things at which the flesh marvels? Why should it be hard for them, by hidden inspirations, to delude our senses, awake or asleep, or to drive us into a frenzy?

Though you may be better than a stage performer in life and character, you may gaze at the most worthless performer walking on a rope, or doing things with the motions of his body that are hard to believe—and yet you probably do not wish to do those things, or think that the performer is better than you are because he can do them. In the same way, if you are a faithful and pious soul, you may see the miracles of the demons, and the weakness of the flesh may make you shudder at them—yet for all that you will not deplore your own lack of power to do those things, or think that the demons are better than you are because they can do them. No, if you are a pious soul, you are in the company of the holy. And the holy, human or good angels, accomplish wonders through the power of God, to whom all things are subject, that are far greater, and quite the reverse of deceptive. –St. Augustine, On the Trinity, 4.11

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Do I allow the demons to distract me from holiness with glittery things like money and status?

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, keep me thankful for your precious and heavenly gifts to me, and preserve me from the temptations set before me by the demonic powers.

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