Satan’s Instigators, by Fr. Paul John Kalchik

By Fr. Paul John Kalchik, Church Militant, June 13, 2022

Friend or fiend?

In this fallen world, there are numerous characters we run into who like to posture as a friend, yet at the end of the day, are far from being a bosom buddy. These deviants, often called frenemies, get their jollies by seeing other people self-destruct. Most people can name one or two such friendships like this that they’ve had to their detriment. In the aftermath of being burned by such instigators, people often learn to guard themselves in future relationships.

Classic literature, even as far back as the Greek tragedies, plays upon this favorite role of Satan, who, as a cursed being, likes to see others join him in his fate. In modern times, this character, the instigator, is depicted in William Shakespeare’s Othello. Othello, upon provocation by Lago, a close confidant, ends up killing his wife, Desdemona. …

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