Posted on 06/25/2014 2:34:00 AM PDT by markomalley
Satan, it would seem, does not act in an arbitrary manner to tempt us. Rather, he is more of a master hunter who carefully sets traps, or a skilled fisherman who, having studied our behavior chooses just the bait he thinks most effective. He’s calculating, and clever.
Sadly most of us, by comparison, are far less calculating and clever in seeking to avoid temptation and sin. We seem more often to engage in the wishful thinking that no trouble will befall us, and our strategy seems to live more with dumb luck. Would that we were as ingenious in holiness as Satan is trying to trap us. Jesus sadly and ironically observed, For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light (Luke 16:8).
Let us consider for a moment, and just briefly, the notion of bait and hook, to use the imagery of fishing.
We consider first the bait. It is of course the nature of bait to be alluring, to be something attractive. If a fisherman were to lower an empty hook, or to attach a rock to it, no fish would come near. So a bait is chosen that appeals to the fish, perhaps an insect, or some morsel that promises nutrition, and a meal for the fish.
Thus for us as well, in choosing a bait to attach to his hook, Satan will strive to render it appealing, even beautiful. He often casts a spell to hide the ugliness of sin and surely to distract us from the presence of the hook.
In our time especially satan cloaks ugly sins in exulted language, speaking of them as ways of lifting up our freedom, or “fulfilling” ourselves. Abortion is not killing an infant, it is reproductive choice, it is freedom etc. Many exult sinful acts by cloaking them in the language of tolerance, acceptance, etc. Still others exude a false compassion in declaring it licit to actively kill the suffering or terminate the lives of children in the womb with the poor prenatal diagnosis.
In ways like these evil masquerades as good, and sins once thought of as clearly awful and ugly, are now presented as good, and even beautiful.
Of course other more traditional bait is still used by Satan as well, such as sex, money, glory, power and so forth. Not all these things are bad in themselves, but are presented in excess, or in the wrong context. But Oh how tasty, how attractive, how beautiful and desirable they can seem.
And thus the bait: attractive, beautiful, and tasty. Scripture says of Eve’s assessment of the forbidden tree: the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it (Genesis 3:6).
But then comes the hook, there’s always the hook with Satan. Never forget this, the hook is always there with Satan. No matter how beautiful, reasonable, desirable the bait maybe there is always the hook.
With the bait of illicit sexual union dangled before us comes the hook. Perhaps it is addiction to pornography, ruined marriages, sexually-transmitted diseases, AIDS, teenage pregnancy, single motherhood, absent fathers, abortion, higher divorce rates, broken families, improperly formed families, and terrible injustice to children.
With the bait of gluttony comes the hook of obesity, heart disease, cholesterol, hypertension, arthritis, addiction to alcohol and drugs, and often death.
With the bait of greed for more and more possessions comes the hook. Perhaps it is credit card bills we cannot pay, perhaps it is slavery to a kind of lifestyle that we think we cannot live without, but we cannot really afford and which which drives us to need double incomes, and work long hours. And thus we never know our children or really even enjoy the things we think we have. Perhaps too, it is a supreme frustration that no matter how much more we have, it is never enough. Our eyes are never really satisfied with seeing, our our ears with hearing, or our will with amassing. For we seem to insatiably want more as the hook of greed drives its points deeper within us, snaring our hearts so that Satan reels us in.
But there is always the hook, never forget that no matter how pleasing the bait may seem, there is always the hook.
We moderns are perhaps more foolish than those who came before us, for we live in a culture that is rather successful in at least temporarily hiding the consequences of many things. And thus our medicines, bromides and technologies may temporarily stave off the effects of too much food and drink or the diseases of sexually responsibility. So-called government safety nets etc. many of them well-intentioned and in some degree necessary also expand to create the illusion of no consequences. Too easily, and too repeatedly many are bailed out from poor and foolish decisions. Thus we are just a little more able to maintain the illusion that the hook isn’t really there.
But the hook is there. There is always a hook with the bait
Just a simple reminder, don’t forget the hook. With the bait, comes the hook. The hook brought to the bait. The bait is about the hook. First the bait, then the hook; always the hook.
Msgr Pope ping
Speaking of how Satan deceives people with language:
Cardinal Wuerl has a very clever name for collaborating in the sacrilegious reception of Communion, causing grave scandal: He calls it “a pastoral approach.” That’s a great gift, being able to dress up one’s own mortal sin in language that makes it sound as though you are caring for souls.
Ping!
Not by “dumb luck” do we continue day after day but through the Holy Spirit that truly owns us
**With the bait of greed for more and more possessions comes the hook. Perhaps it is credit card bills we cannot pay, perhaps it is slavery to a kind of lifestyle that we think we cannot live without, but we cannot really afford and which drives us to need double incomes, and work long hours. And thus we never know our children or really even enjoy the things we think we have. Perhaps too, it is a supreme frustration that no matter how much more we have, it is never enough. Our eyes are never really satisfied with seeing, our ears with hearing, or our will with amassing. For we seem to insatiably want more as the hook of greed drives its points deeper within us, snaring our hearts so that Satan reels us in.**
Another warning about greed
Undermines monotheism.
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