Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Friday of the fifth week of Lent, April 11, 2025

Delivered by Amelia from the Parish of Saint Francis Xavier in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Jeremiah 20: 10-13; Rs psalm 18: 2-3a.3bc-4.5-6.7; John 10: 31-42SPIRITUAL WAR Our meditation today is entitled: Spiritual War. Thecommander or leader of this war is God on the one hand and Satan on the other.The angels and saints are on God's side who carry out their duties as soldiers,while on the other side there are Satan’s soldiers. This war is not to producethe outcome of who wins and loses. Because when it comes to strength orweakness, it is clear that the Lord God is far beyond Satan.  This war always wants to seize the most primarily wealthof God's creation, namely we human beings. We are His beloved people. Everyoneis called and determined what they will become from the womb of their mothers.This calling is complemented by our ministry and mission in the world. ButSatan doesn't care about all those privileges. Instead, he is jealous of theunique dignity of human beings. He has the ambition to bring humans into thedark kingdom. When Satan has seized a human preson, Satan must have used all ofthat person's privileges to strengthen and preserve its kingdom.  The prophet Jeremiah is known for his cleverness inconveying the word of God. But he was hated and pursued by his opponents whowere Satan or enemies of the Lord God. This spiritual war is centered on thetruth of God's wisdom that the prophet defended and the threat destruction byenemies who hated God's wisdom. This war also took place between Jesus and thePharisees and the scribes. The truth that is defended is Jesus as the Son ofGod, the Father's messenger from heaven, and who is united with the Father. Forthe enemies, this is truly a degradation of God’s power and dignity. They werenot willing God the almighty to be equated with Jesus of Nazareth who was justan ordinary human like them. This war is called spiritual because it is full ofbattles of arguments, thoughts, beliefs, and principles of faith. When eachside sticks to its stance, a split or separation will be the end result. Theruler of darkness, Satan, remains opposed to the ruler of truth, God, and thisdivision continues to this moment. As long as the world exists, divisionsremain because Satan never stops working with all its strategies to seizehumans in this world.  Each of us experiences the end of this war when deathcomes to pick it up. The process after our death is a determination of whetherwe will go to the kingdom of God or to the kingdom of Satan. After our death,there will be no more spiritual warfare. What exists is a journey to our eternaldestination. Let us pray. In the name of the Father... O Almighty God, maywe always be strong in every temptation and deceit of Satan so that we canalways be faithful to You. Our Father who art in heaven... In the name of the Father...