Dispelling untruths about the devil

It has been said that the devil's greatest trick is to convince people that he does not exist. How could he not? He is behind every evil the world has ever known including, in our day, that great delusion and utter madness that has descended on so many. Gender confusion, delusions about racism, cancel culture, etc. And he also is behind the gross infringements of injustice upon the innocent, such as a man who was arrested under false pretenses, whose accusers could not agree with each other, who was wrongly condemned, beaten, whipped, crucified, dead and buried. Yet there is another delusion the devil has foisted, namely his lie that the darkness is our fate, that all is lost, that there is no hope. This denies the resurrection of our Lord. When a strong man armed keeps his palace, his goods are at peace, but when a stronger than he comes upon him, he overtakes him and divides the spoil. So our Lord by his weakness overcame  the devil, much as a tender worm on a hook devoured by a fearsome fish which does not know of the hook and is snared by it. And we have been redeemed and set free from the prison-house of hell. Blessed are they that hear the word of God--this word--and keep it. So let us rejoice in our liberty and lift up our heads. Sermon for Oculi Sunday. The video is here.