Advent, 2nd Sunday (B) Watch out for fake news, and for calumny. Always check the sources! Before sharing information, ask yourself three questions: 1) Is it true? 2) Is it good? 3) Is it useful?

Lies can damage relationships. Don't believe me? Ask the Hallmark Channel! Just when a couple starts to believe in the possibility of love, their relationship almost gets torpedoed by "The Misunderstanding." There would be no "happily ever after" if they didn't seek out the truth.

We have become victims of an intentional disinformation campaign. God loves us and he wants us to be happy. In order to keep us from God, the enemy lies to us about ourselves and about God. Here are seven "core wounds" according to the John Paul II Healing Center, and the lies that cause them:

Rejection: I am unloved and unlovable; no one wants me; I am not good enough.

Abandonment: No one knows me or understands me; no one cares about me; I am alone.

Fear: If I trust, I will be hurt. I am not safe and protected. I can't trust anyone or anything.

Shame: I am bad, stupid, ugly, dirty, or worthless. I am broken beyond repair. I can't be forgiven.

Powerlessness: I am weak, powerless, trapped, and can't get out.

Hopelessness: The lie that nothing ever changes; I'll never have what I want. Life is meaningless; I have nothing to live for.

Confusion: Everything is confusing. I don't understand anything. It's up to me to figure things out, and I'll never be able to know.

The lies that I believe are there to protect me from being hurt, but in the end they are keeping God at a distance and not allowing him to truly love me. Pray for the grace to recognize lies and reject them.

(10 Dec 2023)

Going Deeper: Pray the St. Michael prayer to be able to recognize lies to reject them, and recognize the truth in order to accept it:

St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

or:

Sáncte Míchael Archángele, defénde nos in proélio, cóntra nequítiam