We are made by God for good things. For that
reason, we battle all that is bad every day. As Christians, we battle from the
stronghold that is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The “Manual of Spiritual Warfare” (TAN
Books www.tanbooks.com)
begins:
“Like it or not, you are at war! No matter who you are, - whether
or not you know it – you have a mortal enemy who wants to destroy you, not just
in this life, but in the next.”
We as a church have been fighting this war. You fight this war. My
family is been fighting this war. Our children are fighting it. And, the first
rule in fighting this war is “know your enemy.”
When I say we fight all that is bad every day, do not be fooled.
Our war is with the evil one, the Devil. The world is going to scoff
and say there is no such thing as the Devil. But the Devil, the enemy has
blinded the world to its existence.
The Church has been fighting this war since the
beginning of the Church.
The enemy has brought scandal to the Church. The proof of this is the enemy’s effects on human behavior and on
the physical world.
It began in the priesthood. Demons took over the
lives of many called to chastity and purity. Some may have been specifically
led by the evil one to that lifestyle.
In the physical world, many are murmuring, some are running away. In some parts of the country, good holy priests
are being insulted, spit on, and threatened as they walk down the street.
People are turning away from the Church.
Jesus knows the ones who believe in him and the one who would betray him.
Good and holy men who have given their lives to
God are disparaged, discouraged, and disheartened; but they go on, finding
strength in the words of Peter, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We
have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."
Each and every one of us is attacked by the
Devil every day. My family is under attack. Our children are attacked. It is
hard to understand this mystery of why the presence of evil is still among us.
I think Joshua understood it as he addressed the
people of Israel. "If it does
not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve…”
People succumb to the temptations of the Devil
by their own free choice, radically rejecting God and what is good. In that
free choice, people do so many wicked deeds, sins against God and their
neighbors.
But God is powerful enough to bring out of the
greatest evil the much greater good. The source of the greater good is God
the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
"This saying is hard; who can accept
it?" There are some of you who do not believe.
As we face our daily war, remember Jesus. “The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and
life." Remember the Holy
Spirit.
The saints tell us remember Jesus. St. Irenaeus
said “by invoking the name of Jesus Christ, Satan is driven out.”
The saints tell us remember the Holy Spirit. St
Cyril of Jerusalem said “in the Holy Spirit we have a mighty ally and protector
from God.”
In the war we are in and the daily fights we
face. It is a war against the goodness that is in us; it is a war on the Church
and we are the Church. Be strong, keep this on your heart and on your
lips, we serve the LORD, for
he is our God.
This is a great mystery; we are made by God for
good things. But far be it from me
to boast [in anything or anyone], except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Gal 6:14)
Be good, be holy and preach the gospel in the
way you live and love. Amen.
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