There are different strategies for writing homilies. One is to use the one that you used three years ago, because the readings are the same every three years. Most priests, including myself, do not do that. So when I write a homily I look a the readings anew and this set of readings are the same from my first full year of ordination and this is the 7th time these readings have appeared in the 19 years I am ordained. However as usual I did not look at what I preached before, I looked at the readings anew. One of the things I discovered by doing that fascinated me.

The gospel teaches the apostles to go out trusting completely in the Father’s Providence. How do we know that? Jesus tells them to carry nothing but a walking stick, no second tunic, no money in their belts, no food, no sack, they could wear sandals. However, they were also to bring another apostle. There is a profound teaching in that simple statement. Drawing on the message to the Jews at the Exodus, Jesus gives the apostles a simple message of what they should bring, but warns them not to go alone. Why is that so significant? Simple. Jesus is telling them to trust in the Lord’s providence, but do not trust in humanity.

An obvious question might be why? Should not we be so trusting that we are just living simply with no need to do anything but trust that the Lord is guiding us. No! Jesus Himself not only says no, but warns that we are not supposed to be naive little waifs just living off the providence of the Father. In a synoptic version of this gospel in Matthew, he tells his disciples to be shrewd as serpents. He warns the apostles that they are going out like sheep among wolves and that these wolves will haul them into the authorities. We even see this today. So, He warns, be shrewd as serpents. What does shrewd mean: It means cunning, it means clever, wise. Think of it this way, we are called to go out as masters of chess. Be several moves ahead of our enemies so that we can allow God to work through us without them defeating us.

We have suffered from a great crisis in this Church and many people will tell you because we allowed liberals to take over our Church or that the Bishops are too liberal or whatever the case may be. Actually, I think many leaders in our church including some bishops did not take the warning of being as shrewed as serpents, in other words, they did not take the warning of being aware of the cunningness of evil seriously.

One bishop, who has been accused of never apologizing for his part in the crisis in the Church actually has apologized at least nine times. He would often complain publicly that he did everything he was supposed to do: he sent offending priests to psychiatrists, he consulted lawyers followed their advice, so he remained unaware of what he actually did wrong in the crisis. He followed the  advice of experts. In the game of chess that living our Catholic life can be, he was not taking into account the expertise of the opponent, the devil, who knows well how to play the game. The bishop played by the rules of science and law. The Devil plays by the rules of chess.

Jesus understood that, so He said to the disciples words that can be interpreted, trust in God, but do not be so naive as to believe you do not need to protect yourself when dealing with humanity. Do not go alone. Remember, the battle zone in our spiritual lives is the human heart and the human heart can be weak in its resolve. It is what is found in the human heart that leads to the actions of others good and bad. We can encounter the most evil of characters and if we are not shrewd, they will surprise us. We will sit in a corner in shock that anyone can be so evil. However, if we are shrewd then we are able to be prepared for evil and not be shocked when it comes.

We are fighting a deeply, shrewd enemy and if we are not as shrewd as he, he will eat us up and spit us out. Why, because that enemy has a passion for the destruction of souls. He wants every human being in Hell and works hard to get them there. You can imagine that Jesus knew that the apostles would be under attack for the rest of their lives by this passionate enemy. He makes it clear, protect yourself. Remember this enemy uses the human heart as a weapon. Protect yourself. Turn from sin, yes, and be aware as St. Peter warns us that the Devil is already to use others to destroy us. I was at a kind of prayerful supper and gathering the other night, and one guest who is a highly respected Catholic businessman told us about a certain movie star, an actor and director, whose name you would recognize immediately who made a powerful movie about Christ’s Passion and death. The star of the movie shared that the director was told that both he and star would be attacked by Satan for the rest of their lives for making that movie and you would know the director for he has suffered intensely negative headlines for the effects of his succumbing to his weaknesses. The Devil plays chess well and uses others to make his moves. Be aware of this and protect yourself. Trust in God’s providence but beware and be prepared for those who are in the Devil’s camp. God, ultimately, will use the Devil’s wiles as a way to defeat him, but if  you lose hope you will succumb to the Devil’s despair.

So know what you are dealing with and know your opponent’s ability to play chess well. Stay close to Christ, trust in God’s providence, but be careful when dealing with men, for the human heart is the weapon of the Devil. Stay close to the sacraments and know that the closer you seek to do the will of God, the more cunning will the Devil be in seeking to destroy you. Know how to be even more cunning and clever than He is when dealing with humanity in his camp.

God bless you,

Fr. Robert J Carr

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