Thoughts on the Battle

Some time ago, we had an adult baptism at our church and I began to reflect on the battle he was about to face, one which we all face,  a battle that is fierce and, ultimately, that will last to the end of our lives.  This battle is not against flesh and blood but against Satan and his hosts (Eph. 6:12) However, the encouragement is, as the psalmist tells us, that the Lord is our strength and our defender (Psalm 28:7).

In this battle, we must learn from Christ who said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My load is light.”  How does the Lord want us to act?  St. John Chrysostom said: “…he who imitates the Master’s meekness will not lose his temper nor be roused against his neighbour.  Even if someone shall strike him, he will say: If I have spoken ill, bear witness to the evil; but if well, why dost thou strike me?  If anyone call out and say that he is possessed by an evil spirit, he answers:  I have not a devil, and none of the charges brought forward against him will be able to hurt him.  Such a man will scorn all the glory of the present life; nothing of the visible world will win him over to itself, for from now on he will see things through different eyes.  The man who is humble of heart will never be able to envy his neighbour’s possessions.  He will not steal nor will he commit fraud; he will not yearn for wealth, but, while showing great compassion for his kindred, he will even forsake the wealth which he does have.  Such a man will not undermine another’s marriage.  Since he has come under the yoke of Christ and has learned to be meek and humble of heart, he will follow in the steps of the Master and manifest every virtue in every way.”  (Baptismal Instructions, p.35)

In a word, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (2 Cor. 10:4), but consist of humility and a gentle and contrite heart, full of mercy and love.  As such it is easy to see why the fight is so difficult.  To overcome long-held prejudices, habits and thoughts is not an easy thing.  To realize, and live out the realization, that other people are not the problem, demands a great deal from us.  It is easier to view others with fear, resentment, hatred and so on.  We delude ourselves if we live with that sort of mindset.  We need to see clearly that it is the enemy of Christ, Satan himself, who has only one plan in mind: to steal and to kill and to destroy (John 10:10), and that he is the one against whom we must fight.

Of course, what we are called to in this battle is impossible for us, apart from our abiding in Christ.  When we presume to live victoriously, apart from the Church, we are always defeated.  However, as we participate in His Body, we are given the strength in Christ, through His Body and Blood at Communion, and by worshipping Him with others, to live as He wills.  Our real enemy will be defeated and those outside of the Church will see the love we have and come to see the goodness of God for themselves.