tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1123808496292529808.post7238796145135036048..comments2024-01-21T04:26:20.215-05:00Comments on A Shepherd's Post: To My Friends: Don't Allow the Devil to Devour YouFr. David Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448576898945830796noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1123808496292529808.post-11402496990989206312014-03-26T23:22:04.085-04:002014-03-26T23:22:04.085-04:00Yes, I think what you write is true. But, even th...Yes, I think what you write is true. But, even though these things can powerfully affect us, I think it is important for us to do everything possible to remain faithful. Some of the great saints can teach us about this. I think of John of the Cross and Padre Pio. <br /><br />I think of how Jesus tells us that we have to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This, at times, seems an impossible command. And yet, Jesus makes it a central part of being a disciple. This is not to dismiss the injuries or to excuse the bad behavior. It is simply to say that we should not allow ourselves to be robbed of the gift of Faith. Scandal is terrible. Jesus himself said so. But, if we happen to be the one who is scandalized, we should resist allowing that scandal to steal the things of God from us.Fr. David Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14448576898945830796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1123808496292529808.post-69722102241869588382014-03-26T16:18:01.535-04:002014-03-26T16:18:01.535-04:00Quick typo correction in your 1 Peter 5:8-10 citat...Quick typo correction in your 1 Peter 5:8-10 citation -- your fellow believers throughout the word (should be WORLD). Great post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1123808496292529808.post-80223516628229929972014-03-26T01:46:32.212-04:002014-03-26T01:46:32.212-04:00If being a witness to Christ's love can streng...If being a witness to Christ's love can strengthen one's faith then witnessing something that runs counter Christ's love can be just as powerful in diminishing one's faith especially if it's encountered in a place where it should not be. Often it is not so easy to overcome the damage that has been done. There are times where it seems like some priests and the Church itself do not fully understand this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1123808496292529808.post-69799394985581995582014-03-25T17:07:18.391-04:002014-03-25T17:07:18.391-04:00Thanks for your comment. Do I think that members o...Thanks for your comment. Do I think that members of the Church--including priests--have failed one another? Certainly. And in all sorts of ways. The reason I wrote the post is because I know that's the case. And, we should all be accountable for our failings. No argument there. My point is that we shouldn't allow Evil to rob us of our Faith. The persons I had in mind when I wrote that post would agree with me that I was not dismissing their wounds. They were, in fact, grateful, that I was addressing them. I am glad that you wrote a reply because I would not want you to think that I was dismissing the pain. My point is just that we shouldn't allow evil to undermine our faith and drive us away. I hope that clarified!Fr. David Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14448576898945830796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1123808496292529808.post-24299086472378519002014-03-25T15:31:30.258-04:002014-03-25T15:31:30.258-04:00Do you think that maybe, just maybe, the Church it...Do you think that maybe, just maybe, the Church itself HAS failed some of its members and SHOULD be accountable for those failings. That by dismissing those failings and continuing to devote our lives to a Church that has failed its members we are actually allowing the devil to enter our most sacred asylums on earth. Isn't it possible for the devil to wear priest's clothing? Robertnoreply@blogger.com