Love of God > Evil
When life gets hard, it’s natural to reflect on the challenges and struggles we face in our faith. Yet, it’s crucial to remember the central message of the Gospel: through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, sin, death, and the devil have been defeated. We are no longer slaves to darkness, and the light of God has overcome all evil.
The Danger of Overemphasizing Evil
Recently, I’ve noticed an unsettling focus among some Christians on the power of the Evil One and the disunity he creates. While it’s essential to acknowledge the presence of evil in the world, we must not give it undue attention. Our focus should always remain on the truth that God’s love has already triumphed. Through Christ, the powers of darkness are powerless. There is no fear for us as believers because love, not evil, holds the final victory.
Rahner and the Powerlessness of Evil
Karl Rahner beautifully reminds us of this truth in his reflection: “The intrinsic disunity of evil itself, which is at once one of the factors of its power and of its powerlessness, is not such that it could destroy the unity of the world or its history.” In simpler terms: evil has no lasting power here. This echoes the teaching of Gaudium et Spes: while sin enslaves, Christ’s resurrection breaks the stranglehold of the evil one, freeing the world to be made new in God’s design.
The Devil’s Deception and God’s Grace
One of the greatest tricks of the enemy is to make us believe he holds more power than he truly does. When we focus too much on his influence, we take away from the overwhelming grace and love of God that reigns supreme. Sin, at its root, often stems from a misplaced desire for power, envy, or pride, as St. Bonaventure explains in his Breviloquium. But the truth is that the devil is powerless before God. Jesus has already won the victory.
When we acknowledge this, we stop feeding into the lie that the devil can control us. Instead, we reclaim our God-given agency, recognizing that it is our free will—our choices—that draw us closer or farther from God.
Reclaiming Our Free Will
This is a critical shift in perspective. When we blame the devil for our missteps, we distance ourselves from the responsibility of our own decisions. We all have free will, a gift from God, and with that gift comes the ability to choose love, to choose God in every moment.
As Cardinal Ratzinger once wisely said, “What is negative has no power in the end… We must always be aware that only God is God and that whoever builds on him, therefore, need never fear satanic powers.”
Fixing Our Eyes on God’s Love
Instead of focusing on the devil’s influence, let’s fix our eyes on where God’s love is at work. The reality is, God is present in every moment of joy, sorrow, and all the spaces in between. Jesus himself told us, “In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” (John 16:33). That is where our hope lies—not in fear of the enemy but in the triumph of love.
We Are an Easter People
We are, after all, an Easter people. We are part of the greatest love story ever told: the Gospel. It is a story of victory, of light overcoming darkness, and of love casting out fear. As Easter people, we have no reason to fear the evil that has already been defeated. Remember, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18).
Walking in the Light of God’s Love
So, as we journey through life, especially during its difficulties, let’s encourage one another to invest deeply in our relationship with God. Let us seek the light in every situation, knowing that God’s love reigns supreme.
Let’s walk in the light, trusting that God’s love has already conquered the darkness.
Written by Kristyn Russell
Kristyn is a Midland native who attended St. Brigid Catholic School before heading to Jefferson and Dow High School. She holds a Master’s degree in Theology from Villanova University and a Bachelor’s degree in Theology with a minor in Communication from Aquinas College. When she’s not at work, she’s usually with her dog, Caspian, kayaking a new river, hiking through the woods, or sitting by a campfire reading a book. Contact Kristyn.