Saturday in the 5th Week of Lent: The Conclusion

The Scripture Readings for Today are HERE!

We have now come to the end of The Screwtape Letters and if you have hung in there with me to the end – Thank You!  So many of you have told me that you are watching each episode whether daily, weekly, or all at once.  I have enjoyed this study with you.

As we come to a close, I think it is good to ask, what have we learned about ourselves when it comes to the temptations we face.

In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis provides deep insights into human nature, particularly our vulnerabilities and tendencies. Through Screwtape’s advice to Wormwood, we learn several key things about ourselves:

1. We Are Easily Distracted

Screwtape emphasizes that humans can be kept from deep spiritual reflection by filling their lives with noise, busyness, and trivial concerns. Simple distractions—entertainment, work, social obligations—can prevent us from thinking seriously about God and our faith.

2. We Struggle with Pride and Vanity

Screwtape encourages Wormwood to make the Patient either overly proud of his humility or ashamed of his faith. We often fall into the trap of seeking social approval, becoming self-righteous, or feeling superior to others based on our beliefs or actions.

3. We Are Inconsistent

We can have moments of strong faith but quickly waver due to fear, comfort, or routine. Screwtape highlights that human emotions fluctuate, and temptations are most effective when they strike during times of doubt, exhaustion, or stress.

4. We Are Prone to Complacency

Screwtape advises that dramatic sins aren't always necessary to pull someone away from God—just a slow drift into spiritual laziness. We often settle into habits that are neither overtly sinful nor particularly virtuous, making them spiritually stagnant.

5. We Are Easily Influenced by Society

Screwtape suggests that culture, peer pressure, and trends can be powerful tools for temptation. We often given in to society’s norms, even when they conflict with our deeper values.

6. We Desire Love but Can Misuse It

Screwtape warns that love, while powerful and good, can be twisted. People may use love selfishly, expect others to complete them, or manipulate relationships for personal gain. However, genuine selfless love is a force that demons fear.

7. Suffering Can Strengthen or Weaken Us

While suffering can lead to despair, it can also drive people closer to God. Screwtape acknowledges that pain often refines people and strengthens their faith—something demons must work hard to prevent.

Ultimately, The Screwtape Letters teaches that while humans are flawed and susceptible to temptation, they are also capable of great faith, love, and redemption when they turn toward God.

 

So What do we learn about God in Screwtape Letters

In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis presents a unique perspective on God (whom Screwtape refers to as "the Enemy") through the lens of a demon. While the book never provides direct theological exposition, it reveals profound truths about God’s nature, love, and relationship with humanity.

1. God Genuinely Loves Us

Screwtape and other demons struggle to understand why God loves us so deeply. Unlike Satan’s manipulative control, God desires a relationship based on love and free will. He does not force people to follow Him but invites them to choose Him willingly.

2. God Desires Human Freedom

Screwtape despises the fact that God does not treat humans as puppets. Instead, He allows us the freedom to make our own choices, even if it means we might turn away from Him. This frustrates the demons, who prefer control and coercion.

3. God Uses Suffering for Good

From the demonic perspective, suffering should drive people to despair, but Screwtape admits that God often uses hardship to strengthen faith. When we endure trials with trust in God, we grow spiritually, making it harder for demons to corrupt us.

4. God Wants Humans to Become Truly Ourselves

Unlike Hell, which seeks to consume and dominate, God wants us to become our true, unique selves—fully alive and flourishing in His presence. Screwtape criticizes God for wanting people to become like Him, not as mindless servants but as freely devoted beings.

5. God is Patient and Forgiving

Screwtape acknowledges that God does not give up on people when they fail. He offers forgiveness and new chances, making it difficult for demons to keep their victims in despair. No matter how many times a person stumbles, God’s grace is always available.

6. God’s Love is Beyond Demonic Comprehension

Screwtape and the other demons cannot understand why God sacrifices for us. His love is self-giving and unconditional, whereas demons operate through selfishness and manipulation. This love is what ultimately saves the Patient and thwarts Hell’s plans.

7. God Wins in the End

Despite Hell’s schemes, God’s ultimate victory is inevitable. When the Patient dies and enters Heaven, Screwtape bitterly acknowledges that God has claimed another soul. This affirms the Christian belief that, despite struggles with temptation, God's grace triumphs.

Overall, The Screwtape Letters portrays God as loving, just, patient, and relentless in His pursuit of humanity’s good. His ways are the opposite of Hell’s, and His victory is certain for those who trust in Him.

 

C. S. Lewis did write a brief sequel  titled, Screwtape Proposes a Toast.  It is largely a commentary on the British Political and Education systems.  I encourage you to read it.  I also encourage you to read other C. S. Lewis books, particularly The Great Divorce and Mere Christianity.  Perhaps we will study them together in the future.

Let us close our study with the Prayer for Saturday in the 5^th Week of Lent.

O Lord, in your goodness you bestow abundant graces on your elect: Look with favor, we entreat you, upon those who in these Lenten days are being prepared for Holy Baptism, and grant them the help of your protection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.