Fr. Joseph Illo offers a powerful sermon on the trials of Lent. In his sermon, Fr. Illo explains how Lent is an ongoing battle against the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, but especially the Devil who has declared war on God and His Children. In the Gospel of the third week of Lent we see Our Lord driving the Devil out of a mute man. Most people rejoiced in this exorcism, but some accused Jesus of collaborating with Beelzebub. Fr. Illo describes this interaction as a demon being a strong man fully armed, who is assailed by a stronger man, Jesus. Fr. Illo explains that to be with Jesus is to reject Satan entirely. St Paul excoriates those who want to have it both ways – we can’t have Jesus and impurity. Fr. Illo laments the modern control which the media has on the minds of people, and it is only through union with God that it is possible to avoid this “filth” as Pope Emeritus Benedict called it. Every bishop today must today be a reforming bishop, every priest a reforming priest. It is not enough to simply carry out one’s duties, but rather we must be saints working to clean up our lives and culture. From Monterey 2016-Has the Final Battle Begun?