Do you believe??
By RH
Recently we had a Baptism during Mass. As part of the Baptism, we are all asked to renew our
Baptismal promises. We automatically respond “I do” to the questions Father asks. The following are the first 2 questions:
Do you reject Satan?
Many people today do not believe that Satan (the devil) exists. He has been around since before Adam and Eve. He was there to tempt Jesus. (Jesus gave us examples and ways how not to fall for the devil’s lies.) He has not disappeared! He can disguise
himself so well that we do not recognize him as evil. He can be so convincing when he wants to lead someone down the wrong path. Do we live as if we believe he exists? Do we teach our children that evil and sin exists and how to avoid them?
And all his works?
There are so many ways that the devil can lead us to do his ways. If we allow him to (remember, we have been given free will), he will weaken our conscience so that we will do things that we would not do if our conscience was in good, healthy shape. For instance, cheating on our taxes, not attending Mass on Sunday, stealing from our workplace, swearing, lying, watching pornography, etc. He will tell you “It’s okay - everyone does it!” As we are lead to do his works, our children are watching and learning how to follow him, too. Jesus tells us in Matthew, Chapter 18, “If anyone should cause one of these little ones to lose his faith in me, it would be better for that person to have a large millstone tied around his neck and be drowned in the deep sea.”
The next time you are asked to renew your Baptismal promises, stop and listen to the questions. Do you believe what you are saying “I do” to, and really mean it?