Dear Friends,

Personally written and read by Paul Harvey this version of his poignant and timely essay titled, “If I were the Devil” was broadcasted on his radio show, The Rest of the Story in 1965.

“IF I WERE THE DEVIL … IF I WERE THE DEVIL … If I were the Prince of Darkness, I would want to engulf the whole world in darkness. I’d have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree … THEE. So, I would set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first, and I would begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please!” To the young, I would whisper that the Bible is a myth. I would convince the children that man created God instead of the other way around. I’d confide that what’s bad is good and what’s good is square. And the old, I would teach to pray after me, “Our Father, which art in Washington …” Then, I’d get organized. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten T.V. with dirtier movies and vice versa. I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills. IF I WERE THE DEVIL … I’d soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war with themselves and nations at war with themselves until each, in its turn, was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings, I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames.

IF I WERE THE DEVIL … I would encourage schools to refine young intellects but neglect to discipline emotions. just let those run wild. Until before you knew it, you’d have drug-sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door. Within a decade, I’d have prisons overflowing and I’d have judges promoting pornography. Soon, I would evict God from the courthouse and then from the schoolhouse and then from the houses of Congress. In His own churches, I would substitute psychology for religion and deify science. I’d would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls and church money. IF I WERE THE DEVIL … I’d make the symbol of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle. IF I WERE THE DEVIL … I’d take from those who have and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. What’ll you bet I couldn’t get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich? I would caution against extremes in hard work, patriotism and in moral conduct. I’d convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, and that what you see on television is the way to be. And thus, I could undress you in public and lure you into bed with diseases for which there are no cures. In other words, if I were the devil, I’d just keep right on doing what he’s doing.”

Jesus extends an invitation to each and every one of us, written with His own Divine Blood, in which He genuinely requests the honor of our presence to share in the fullness of His Presence of love in the kingdom of His Father. Also, He patiently waits for the courtesy of our response. Despite our fear of a better offer, His invitation may sound surprisingly non-judgmental; it would go something like: “It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living; I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing. … It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon . . . I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life’s betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain. … if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; … if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day; and if you can source your own life from its presence; … if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and [still live in hope]; … if you can get up after a night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children; … It doesn’t interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.” (cf., “The Invitation” by Oriah Mountain Dreamer.) Our Lord’s invitation is not to a wedding feast; it is to nothing less than the fullness of life and love in His Presence forever. The consequence of not accepting His invitation to His banquet leaves us frightened, alone, and excluded from the blessings of being in communion with Him. Have I accepted the response-ability that He has entrusted to me? Have I the courtesy to respond to my Heavenly Host, or do I ignore Him, avoid Him, deny knowing Him, or simply make excuses for not replying, as I look for a better offer? Jesus has given His life for me and my salvation … What is my response now?

Be of good cheer and have a blessed week!

Msgr. Grous