The Seasons: A Poem

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Sunrise over Amazing Grasses Family Farm The mad Artist wields His brush, Painted colors rush, To life and give flush, Before the quiet autumn hush. The life seems to pour, As colors fall to the floor, To be seen no more, Outside the dark, grey door. Brightness from below, Sun upon the snow, High, cold clouds blow, Flakes and ice appear to grow. The man melts with little seen, Underneath, pale, grey green, Hides life in dark unseen, Waits for warmth and to careen. Buds on branches show, Patience starts to grow, Trickles, streams and veins flow, Bringing fruits of melted snow. Sprung to life it springs, Bees, birds, sound rings, Lush green flings, Its gift bounty brings. Green growth gives one last rush, Underneath the Painter's brush. The mad Artist wields His brush, before the quiet autumn hush. More poetry is available from James M. Hahn in  The Last Dragon and Other Poems  available now. My new book of cryptogram puzzles " Secret Messages from the Saints " is avai
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The Stronger One

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Readings for Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week of Ordinary Time

To understand today's Gospel we need to step back a couple of verses in the scripture. The Gospel today begins with the scene where people are accusing Jesus of casting out demons by the power of demons. Why are they accusing him of this? Yes, because he just cast out a demon from a man who had been made dumb for many years by this demon.

Often, we read past this first part with little thought. However, we must pay attention to what is really happening. Those folks are attributing that which is of God to the devil. This is very striking when you think about it. In essence, Jesus, our Lord, is being called a devil or worse, the devil, for doing something good. It isn't the only time Jesus is accused of being from the devil and doing evil things. Remember when he cast the demons out of the man and into the pigs. The townsfolk ran Him out of town. In their eyes what He had done was evil. To them, the pigs were more valuable than the man!

The devil is called the father of lies. He is Diablo which means divider or deceiver. The devil cannot create anything. Rather, he twists truth, tarnishes beauty, and distorts the good. Look at the temptation of Adam and Eve. He twists the truth, "you will not die." He tarnishes beauty, "you will be like God" (how could they be anymore like God? They were created in His image and likeness!). He distorts the good, "you will have knowledge of good and evil."

And so with the twisting, tarnishing, and distorting we meet the "strong one" Jesus is referring to today. Yet Jesus is stronger and His grace allows us to be stronger as well. If we abide in Him and He in us, the strong man cannot takeover our heart.

Jesus, as the "stronger one" mentions taking away the armor of Satan. This made me think of St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians about putting on the armor of God. Sooo, in my bold fashion, again, I will rewrite Paul's letter. Of course I guess I don't mind too much the thought of being scolded in Heaven by St. Paul for such boldness!

In true C.S. Lewis and Screwtape fashion.....
Therefore take the whole armor of hell, that you may be able to withstand in the holy day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with falsehood, and having put on the breastplate of pride, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of self; above all taking with you the shield of despair with which you can quench the flaming darts of hope from the One. And take the helmet of damnation, and the sword of my spirit, which is the word of the world. Prey at all times in my spirit, with all deceit and lies. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making victims for all the damned......

"He who is not with me, is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters."

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