September 28 – 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
By revelation from Our Lord and solemn definition from the Church, we know that there is an eternal destiny after our death: Heaven or hell, depending on how we have lived. No one escapes this, as we are taught in this Sunday’s Gospel, in which a rich man is condemned to a place of torment and poor Lazarus is carried by the Angels to the bosom of Abraham (cf. Lk 16:22-23).
However, we can easily forget one thing: in some manner Heaven and hell begin on this earth! How so? There are many ways of looking at it. However, today it seems appropriate to emphasize one important aspect, taking inspiration from the second reading, in which St. Paul admonishes Timothy: “Fight the good fight for the faith” (1 Tm 6:12).
Yes, we are at war! And in this constant struggle we do not fight alone: Angels and demons are constantly intervening in our lives.
The Angels want to be our companions already in this world, in anticipation of the moment when we will go to be with them forever, close to the Blessed Virgin. For their part, the demons want to tempt us, lead us to perdition and away from God, so as to make us share in their eternal unhappiness, now and forever.
This is a real supernatural battle, great and serious, on which our eternity depends. Hence the warning of the prophet Amos in the first reading: “Woe to the complacent” (6:1)!
The big question that arises, then, is how to start living Heaven on this earth. And the answer is simple: do what attracts the Angels and avoid what invites the presence of demons.
For example, if a person – especially a the mother or father of a family – watches an immoral video on the internet, they will undoubtedly attract demons to themselves and those around them. On the other hand, someone who prays the Rosary, attends Mass, adores the Blessed Sacrament or goes to confession will be surrounded by Angels wherever they are.
Demons are attracted by rebellion, vulgarity, sadness, agitation, disorder, impurity, pride, lies and any dishonesty. Angels approach those who seek order, respect, cleanliness, true joy, trust in God, purity, humility, truthfulness, prayer and, in particular, devotion to Our Lady.
There is more: there are songs, places, people, objects, words, environments, clothing and many other things that link us to Angels or demons. One question simplifies discernment in this matter: would the music I listen to or the clothes I wear be fit to be heard or seen in Heaven?
Today’s world is unfortunately losing its heavenly reflections and tending towards hellish chaos. We must be different! In our families, in our homes, in our whole lives, we should only look for what is a reflection of Heaven, with the help of Mary Most Holy. That way, when our time comes to die, we will, like Lazarus, be carried by the Angels to contemplate God for all eternity. And then we will realize how worthwhile it was to have fought the good fight of faith! ◊
