Dealing With Spiritual Sabotage

Daily Office Devotional, Friday, June 27, 2025

Proper 7, the week of the second Sunday after Pentecost

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrase for reflection from today’s reading:

31‘Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, 32but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail;  when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’

(You will find the full text of today's Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.)

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 972)

AM, Psalm 102;  PM, Psalm 107:1-32

1 Samuel 9:1-14;  Acts 7:17-29;  Luke 22:31-38

David's Reflections

British writer David Bolt wrote:  "Anyone who has tried to formulate a private prayer in silence, and in his own heart, will know what I mean by diabolical interference.  The forces of evil are in opposition to the will of God.  And the nearer a (person’s) man's will approaches God's the more apparent and stronger and more formidable this opposition is seen to be. It is only when we are going in more or less the same direction as the devil that we are unconscious of any opposition at all." *

That phrase, "diabolical interference," has stuck with me, as did the final sentence.  "It is only when we are going in more or less the same direction as the devil that we are unconscious of any opposition at all."  Jesus warned Peter on the night of his betrayal by Judas Iscariot that Satan was seeking the Twelve to sift them and to undermine their commitment.  The pronoun "you" in verse 31 is plural, which the translators have made clear with the phrase "all of you."

But, in verse 32, the pronoun is singular, "I have prayed for you."  Jesus was expecting Peter both to fail the sifting test and to recover from that failure.  He said to Peter, "Once you have turned back," which refers to Peter’s impending denials and Jesus’ expectation that Peter would overcome that failure.  But, he also charges him with the words, "strengthen your brothers."

This text has sobering messages for us.  Jesus prays for us, knowing that we will lose many of our bouts with evil.  Jesus prays for us knowing the malevolent intent of the Tempter.  The Evil One desires to undermine our faith and commitment.  Jesus prays for us knowing our weakness and our limits.  He prays for us that our losses to evil will be temporary setbacks.

Our intellects can become a temptation to us as well. We can get distracted with the notion that Satan is a mythic character and nothing to fear. Imagine with me that such is the case, that Satan is a cypher for the power of evil at work in the world—lust, power, and greed in particular. Those powers can have us in their grip while we play the mental game about the existence of Satan. Someone once observed that the greatest victory of the demons may be to convince us of their nonexistence.

We don’t need any convincing about the pervasive seductiveness of greed, lust and power, whether personally embodied in Satan or simply experienced as pernicious, ensnaring forces. Perhaps we need to be a bit more agnostic about the nature of the unseen world and avoid dogmatic assertions about what lurks there.

Jesus also prays for us knowing how interdependent we are.  Others count on us and look to us for encouragement.  Friends, coworkers, relatives, even acquaintances take courage from our lives;  they find emotional strength in us.  If our momentary lapses matured into a profound departure from the Lord, those who take courage in us would be at risk.  "When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."  That was Jesus' word to Peter.

David Bolt's words keep echoing in my memory: "It is only when we are going in more or less the same direction as the devil that we are unconscious of any opposition at all."  When life seems racked with spiritual conflict, resistance, crisis, emotional difficulties, relational stresses, we well may be experiencing diabolical interference.  That would be especially true if we have recently made a new commitment or experienced a deepening of our Christian experience. Diabolical interference may well be a signal that we’re headed in the right direction. Discernment in community can help keep us on the right track.

Take courage.  Jesus prays for us.  He understands the unrelenting nature of evil, having withstood it in his own life and even cringed under its pressure in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He understands frailty and vulnerability.  If we fail, the Savior will be waiting on the other side of that failure to embrace, strengthen, and work within us.  That was true for Peter.  It holds true for each of us.

Jesus will lead us through those moments of spiritual sabotage, even though some holy sweat likely will be required on our part.

* David Bolt, Of Heaven and Hope.  Foreword, J. B. Phillips (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1965), p. 115.

Collect of the Day, The Second Sunday after Pentecost.  Proper 7

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 230)

A Collect for Fridays

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (BCP, 97)

A Prayer for Light

Almighty God, we give you thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore you of your great mercy that, as you enfold us with the radiance of this light, so you would shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 280)

Daily Office Gospel, Luke 22:31-38

31‘Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, 32but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ 33And he said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!’ 34Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.’ 35He said to them, ‘When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?’ They said, ‘No, not a thing.’ 36He said to them, ‘But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. 37For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, “And he was counted among the lawless”; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.’ 38They said, ‘Lord, look, here are two swords.’ He replied, ‘It is enough.’

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer 

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer 

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer