Spit In The Devil's Eye
Feast of Saint Mark, Evangelist
My dear encountered couples:
When things seem to be going wrong for you, don’t think that you are the only one. We are told by Peter, “Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in your faith, realizing that the brotherhood of believers is undergoing the same sufferings throughout the world.”
Try to look upon the difficulties people and the world throw at you like roses strewn at your feet. They are merely opportunities for grace and growth. During those difficult times of your life God gives you more grace, that is, more help to endure whatever is happening to you; and furthermore, you can grow spiritually by using that help and handling as well as you can whatever is the difficulty.
And if they’re right when they say, “Misery loves company,” it might help to remember that Peter said you aren’t the only one with troubles. They come to everyone in some form or other; they are necessary for arriving at sainthood, the required condition for living in heaven.
St. Mark, whose feast we celebrate today, certainly had his own share of troubles, as did Peter and all the apostles and saints. What made them saints? Well, they resisted the efforts of the devil to win them away from Christ.
Let us try to do the same and remain solid in our faith. If you need to relieve some tension and anger caused by all your troubles feel free to spit in the old devil’s eye and tell him where to go. I doubt that God would mind you doing that.
