A struggle to claim the body of Moses. Satan’s pride defeated through humility by Saint Michael the Archangel. These are among the things we read in the Letter of Jude. Discover more.
The Letter of Jude
Jude Thaddeus, one of the twelve apostles, was not only the brother of the highly esteemed James, but also the “brother,” in the sense of cousin, of the Lord. In the Bible, the title “brother” is in fact sometimes extended - as in this case - to the circle of cousins as well. After Christ’s Ascension, Saint Jude Thaddeus felt compelled to bring the good news to everyone. He evangelized Mesopotamia and Libya, and on one of these journeys he wrote a short letter. Deemed by the Church to be “full of the power and grace of heaven,” this letter is considered divinely inspired and is therefore included among the Sacred Scriptures of the New Testament. Through it, Saint Jude intended to warn Christians, by then spread across various parts of the earth, about the false teachers who had infiltrated some communities. Although brief, it is a document rich in great spirituality and profound teachings, and its content immediately captivates the reader; every sentence, every expression, every word is a warning, a law of divine love, an invitation to follow the ways of the Lord blindly.
The struggle between Saint Michael and the devil
Jude Thaddeus had a very great devotion to the Archangel Michael. In his letter, he recalls a very significant event from a theological point of view. It is an event handed down by the Jews: the defense by the Archangel Michael of Moses’ body from the hands of the devil, who wanted to claim it for himself. After Moses’ death, Satan wanted to take his body so that it would be worshipped as a god in place of the true God. We thus see how the Prince of the Heavenly Host has a profound relationship with the fate of human beings after their bodily death. Even in death, the righteous person is protected by the Lord through his Angel, who keeps Satan away from him.
May the Lord condemn you!
Even in this struggle to seize Moses’ body, the archangel Michael does not dare accuse Satan with offensive words; instead, he prefers to leave the task of judging to God. The teachers of error, whom Jude Thaddeus warns against in his letter, do the opposite: they presume too much of themselves, judge the Word of God, and prefer their own dreams to tradition. Michael, however, is not even foolish enough to judge Satan; he says to him: «May the Lord condemn you!». The false teachers, on the other hand, arrogantly put themselves in God’s place, preferring personal judgments to those of apostolic Tradition. Michael, instead, is the exact opposite of arrogance.
The mark left by Jude Thaddeus is very clear. But his is not a judgment of condemnation; rather, it is a fraternal warning: we must be aware that our lives are constantly contested between Evil and Good, and that only in God do we find the strength to overcome the darkness. And did you know about this episode recounted in the Letter of Jude? Write it in the comments.
