21st Sunday after Pentecost 14.10.18 Spiritual
war
St Paul refers to the spiritual battle in which we are all
engaged. We are fighting against demons and their influence; helped all the
while by angels.
It is hard to imagine, as we go through or daily lives,
where most of the time there is no visible drama – that these powerful beings
are concerned with us.
We do not see them, nor the battle that is raging, but we
can feel the effects.
We feel it in the form of thoughts, attitudes, moods, and
contrasting inclinations at different times, towards both good and evil.
We are tempted to sin in various ways; and we are also
inspired towards good. Go, and help that
person, be honest, be humble etc.
Both these things will happen many times each day. We are not
sure ourselves which way we will react. We do know, however, that we have a
choice each time we are confronted with good or evil; and we are further
encouraged that we are never tempted beyond our strength (1 Co 10,13). There will
always be enough grace for any good that we need to do.
Like soldiers in a battle we have to do certain things which
go against our first inclination. To get up early to pray, or go to an extra Mass,
or to do spiritual reading, or visit the sick, or anything that is a bit harder.
Or to avoid watching immoral entertainment, or to suppress an irritable
comment, and a hundred other things.
Just as in a war we face battle on many fronts at the same
time - the army, the navy and the air force are all involved.
We have to deal with matters both personal and communal, involving
the Church and the wider society. We address everything from irritable thoughts
to genocide.
We fight off temptations affecting our own behaviour, at the
same time battling to preserve Christian values: for life, justice, in general
establishing God’s kingdom in our world.
Victory at one level will help the other levels. If
individuals could be less selfish that would fix social problems (eg drug
addiction). If the society would follow God’s ways that would help individuals
to live good lives.
We seek to convert people who are presently on the wrong
side of the battle - in favour of the wrong things, eg abortion, euthanasia.
This is seeking to establish the Kingdom of God, where all
is in order, individually and communally.
We feel all this, and this is our share in the spiritual warfare,
alluded to by St Paul.
The angels and demons fight around us. They do not fight
with swords or guns, but with the push and pull of ideas, concepts, thoughts
and attitudes.
It is helpful when we come together to pray, because we need
encouragement. Discouragement is a major player on the side of evil. The devil
wins a lot of battles because the people are not sufficiently armed – going
into battle without armour, without the defence of being in a state of grace;
in many cases not even knowing there is a battle raging.
St Paul is telling us to be aware of all this, but also
confident of victory. If Christ is for
us, who can be against us? (Rm 8,31)
It is vital that we maintain hope, realizing that being uncomfortable
is not the same as losing.
If we stay alert, remembering the nature of the battle, we
can make certain that we will achieve the personal victory of salvation, and do
much to help others to the same goal.
We will win the battles, and the war.
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