>>10896088In a second way, so that the god of this world is the devil, who is called the god of this world, i.e., of those who live in a worldly manner, not by reason of creation but by imitation, because worldly persons imitate him. They follow him who are on his side (Wis 2:25). Here he blinds them by suggesting, by attracting and by inclining to sins. And so, when they are already in sin, they work in the darkness of sin, lest they see: darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God (Eph 4:18).
In the third way thus: God has the nature of the ultimate end and fulfillment of the desires of every creature. Hence, whatever a person assigns to himself as an ultimate end in which his desire rests, can be called his god. Hence, when you have pleasure as end, pleasure is called your god, and the same for pleasures of the flesh and for honors. Then it is explained so that the god of this world is that which men living in a worldly way set up as their end, say pleasure or riches and the like. And God blinds their minds, inasmuch as he prevents them from seeing the light of grace here, and the light of glory in the future. Fire, namely of concupiscence, has fallen on them, and they shall not see the sun (Ps 57:9). Thus, therefore, the blindness of unbelievers is not on the part of the Gospel, but from the sin of unbelievers.
>>10896073Santa Claus is in the picture to the left of that post
