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Last year, I read the book "The Archangel of Westminster" by Michael Shaughnessy. It's a story about an American visiting Westminster Cathedral and, while in there, he encounters Michael the Archangel. The American "interviews Michael and receives a first hand account of the great spiritual battle between Jesus and Satan: the fall from heaven, the temptation in the wilderness, the death and resurrection of the Messiah." One of the most powerful parts of the book is where Michael is describing the crucifixion of Jesus. Michael shares that on Calvary, there were legions of angels with him, ready to battle all the demons who were gleefully encircling Our Lord, basically licking their chops at His imminent death. The army of good angels were taut with a desire to go and do battle, but they were told to stay. Hold. Michael describes how difficult it was to do that, because even the good angels didn't fully understand what was happening. I just found this to be one of the most tragically beautiful images to meditate on. Legions upon legions of angels surrounding Jesus, ready to do battle on His behalf, watching Him being tortured, and being told by God to hold. Because this needed to happen for us, for our salvation. Satan and the demons thought that they were winning, but they lacked the game plan. They didn't know that Christ would be victorious over death and open the gates for us. They didn't know that they were going to lose. There is no greater Love, Catholic Pilgrims. Have a very blessed and holy Good Friday.

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I think our Gospel reading from Luke is a clear indicator that the idea of "once saved, always saved" doesn't work. If at the moment of being "saved," that was all that was needed, then there is no point in teaching us about fighting against temptation. One could argue that you still need to be a good person. But, why? If your salvation is assured, what does it matter? In fact, some have argued throughout the centuries that if you are "saved," you might as well give into temptation and do whatever you want, because "Jesus paid the price for everything on the Cross already." In Jesus' time in the desert, we see that temptations must be fought against, otherwise, why would Christ show us how to fight against them? Satan is actively trying to get Jesus severed from the Father. It's fruitless with Christ, but we need to see the danger there for us. Every time we give into a temptation, a bit of grace leaves our soul. With venial sins, we are taking small turns away from God; with mortal sins, we fully turn our back on Him. And each time we do that--give into sin--we are gesturing with our consent to either follow ourselves, follow Satan, or follow the world. What we cannot say is that we are consenting to follow God. St. Benedict XVI wrote, A Christian "must every day renew their decision to be Christian, that is, to give God the first place in the face of the temptations that a secularized culture constantly suggests." We are initially saved by grace through faith--that free gift. However, it would be wildly dangerous to think that we can't ever lose that. We can. Sin severs us from God. Grace is the Divine Life within us. Sin removes that. To be sunk in sin, specifically mortal sin, means we have lost the Divine Life within us. Confession restores it. Here in this earthly life, our faith in God is not a one and done event. It is, instead, the continually decision to stay close to Christ and allow the graces given by the Holy Spirit to sanctify us more and more. Have a blessed First Sunday of Lent, Catholic Pilgrims.