“Right now I have a sense of growing evil that has me both a little shaken and increasingly combative. I am taking some steps in my own life in the face of what I see on the horizon. I suggest that you do to. As part of that preparation… GO TO CONFESSION.”– Fr. Z’s Blog

I’ve been feeling this for a number of years now, growing stronger over time. At first, it would only be short waves of evil, easily over-looked, but in the past year the sense has been intense and almost over-whelming. I’ve stepped up my efforts with my daily Rosary, scripture reading, and prayer. I am nearly a weekly visitor to confession. I see it and Mass as essentials that are even more vital now.

What has changed in the last few months, and calming my anxiety over the growing evil, is an accompanying awareness that there are others standing against the growing evil. It brings to mind a verse from a rather pagan little story I enjoyed as a youngster, “When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back, Three from the circle, Three from the track…”[by Susan Cooper, The Dark Is Rising series].  I wonder at how appropriate is the metaphor (not a literal six– after all this is a kids story and not prophecy!) and I am looking for those who are already in place to turn the evil back and wondering from where are they coming?

The line of poetry reminds me that God always knows what is coming, and the changes that are needed are already to launch. Do you know if you are part of that? I think if you want to be you can be.  Joining in is as easy as getting right with God in Confession, picking up a Rosary, and partaking of the Sacraments diligently and reverently. It is already there in the Our Father. “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done on Earth…” Maybe we just need to mean it.

Anyway, those are my thoughts.

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done on Earth and it is in Heaven, give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil. +Amen.