The Devil’s Mousetrap

        Friends in Christ, today is Spy Wednesday, the day that the spy, Judas, went out to betray Jesus.  Judas is a tragic figure for sure, in the plan of salvation, but he was only a pawn of the devil.  The real battle here, is between Christ and Satan, and this will be played out in the coming days.   

       An artist once painted the famous Merode alterpiece in Belgium, and featured in this painting is St. Joseph.  St. Joseph in the scriptures, is a symbol for God the Father. And in this painting, St. Joseph, who is a carpenter – who works in wood,  he is depicted as making a special mouse-trap.  He is making this mousetrap out of wood – to catch the Mouse.  Who is the ‘Mouse that he will catch?  It is the devil.  And so Joseph, or really, God the Father, is making a trap to catch the Mouse.

        St. Augustine says this:  ‘What is this trap, made by a Carpenter – who works in wood?  ‘God’s Trap for the devil is the Cross.  And who is the bait, placed on the Trap? It is Jesus.  He himself becomes the bait. As St. Anselm says, Jesus is the ‘sweet bait, by which He will catch the devil.  

        You see, the devil made a big mistake,  in his thirst for power he became reckless.  Onto an innocent man, he put the sins and the evil of the entire world – the grossest injustice of all;  he could not resist the opportunity of cruelty;  onto an innocent man, he put all sin, but – a man over whom he had no authority. (because Jesus had never sinned) Satan was outsmarted; he took the bait: hook, line, and sinker.   

        At the death of Christ, the devil jumped for joy.  ‘I’ve won! ‘The Christ is beaten, and these slaves are mine forever.’  But he had made a big mistake.  On Easter morn, that stone is rolled back –  ‘What is this, says Satan?’ ‘Something is wrong.’ And the angel says: He is risen!!   And that word rings in the devil’s head:  ‘Risen? That’s impossible? He was brutally crucified, I saw to that! ‘Risen? Then I have lost. I have been defeated.  

       ‘Yes says Jesus. You have lost.  Sin, and death, and you, have been conquered. Now give me what I want!    –  

What do you want?   He wants us. Give me now, my children!! All of them!  

        And as it is written… ‘The great dragon was cast down, the ancient serpent,  who is called the devil and Satan, who leads astray the whole world;  and he was cast down, and I heard a loud voice in heaven say,  ‘Now has come the salvation, and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of Christ;  for the accuser has been cast down.  And they overcame him through the blood of the Lamb.   

        These are the Mysteries of which we are about to partake. It is our salvation.