Fr. Franco's Letters

The Flame: July/August 2023

Dear Readers of the Flame,

A man died and came before the Lord for judgement. The Lord had a bit of a quizzical look and said to the man, “Things are inconclusive, I am deferring judgement on your life for a day. The first part of the day you will be in heaven. The second part of the day you will be in hell. Afterwards, you will let me know which one you prefer.”

Suddenly, the man found himself on a cloud with a harp surrounded by beautiful music. It was nice. However, after about a half hour he was somewhat bored. By the end of the four-hour trial, though very apprehensive about going to hell for four hours, he was ready for a change.

Sure enough, things changed. However, he was pleasantly surprised at hell. He found himself on a tropical island. Island music floated upon balmy breezes. Waitresses served adult beverages to everyone. His taste buds were aroused by a bar-b-que. Everyone was pleasant. Four hours flew by. He thoroughly enjoyed the food, drink, environment and conversation.

At the end of the day the man again stood before the Lord who simply said, “Well?” The man answered, “Heaven was nice. However, I was a bit surprised with hell. I actually felt a bit more at home there.” The Lord responded, “It will be as you have said.” Poof! The man was in hell. However, things were not as he expected. He was in a hot, sulfur pit that made him gag. He commented to an evil looking creature next to him, “I was in hell earlier today and it was a tropical paradise. What happened?” The demon said, “Oh, this is hell. You must have been at one of our recruiting centers earlier today.”

This story in no way depicts our particular judgement after death. However, it does say something about the workings of the Enemy. He is recruiting. And he can use many pleasant things to distract and eventually derail us from the ultimate goal in life: heaven.

It is important for us to remember that we are at war. The Catechism of the Catholic Church #409 puts it this way:

This dramatic situation of “the whole world [which] is in the power of the evil one” (I John 5:19) makes man’s life a battle: The whole of man’s history has been the story of dour combat with the powers of evil, stretching, so our Lord tells us, from the very dawn of history until the last day. Finding himself in the midst of the battlefield man has to struggle to do what is right and it is at great cost to himself, and aided by God’s grace, that he succeeds in achieving his own inner integrity. (Gaudium et Spes 37 §2)

The traditional enemies in this battle are the world, the flesh and the devil. The world (in bible passages dealing with spiritual warfare) is those societies and organizations that oppose, overtly or covertly, Christ, the gospel and the Church. The temptation is to conform to the world and escape the ostracization that takes place when we think, speak and act in the name of Jesus Christ. The flesh is that broken part of our humanity that craves comfort and satisfaction at the cost of breaking God’s commands. The devil is the seducer of humanity from the beginning and continues to present plausible lies to our minds that promise us the world while wresting us from God’s care and providence.

Our salvation comes from Jesus Christ. Resist is the word that summarizes our stance while engaged in spiritual warfare.

➣ So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

➣ Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith (I Peter 5:8-9a)

➣ Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and having done everything, to hold your ground. (Ephesians 6:13)

Sometimes resisting means saying “no” to temptations in mind and body. Sometimes resisting means saying “no” to our fears. Sometimes resisting means saying “yes” when we want to be less than generous with our time and resources. Sometimes resisting the enemy is as simple as saying no to the snooze button and getting up on time!

Our strength in the battle comes from: a disciplined life of prayer, ascetism (from Greek word askeõ: “to exercise” or “to train”, it is the practice of the denial of physical or psychological desires in order to attain a spiritual ideal or goal), celebration of the sacraments (Eucharist and Penance), nourishment from God’s truth, good relationships and service. Almsgiving is also a great spiritual practice that liberates our hearts and brings us more securely under God’s umbrella of grace.

As Christian morality and ethos are bleached out of our culture, spiritual warfare will become more intense. May our love of the Lord Jesus and one another become more fervent. St. Paul reminds us:

Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the mist of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life (Philippians 2:14-16a)

Let’s shine bright in our darkened world!


In Christ,
Fr. Bob Franco