By Sean Breeden
Wow, so much toxic masculinity already just in the title and the photo. Just kidding. Obviously, we are not picking up actual swords to perpetrate violence. It is a spiritual battle we are talking about, however don't make the mistake of thinking the spiritual battle we are facing is any less real or with any lower stakes than actually going to physical war. In fact, Jesus says in Matthew 10:28, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (NIV). So, that means the stakes in spiritual battle are actually HIGHER than literally picking up a sword and marching into battle!
Another key point to keep in mind is that you are ALREADY a warrior. Through your baptism, the Holy Trinity has taken up residence within your soul. That means that God the Warrior King actually dwells within you, and you have an ever-present flow of grace to be the warrior you are called to be. I can tell by the look on your face that you still don't really believe that you're a warrior. So, I will now prove it to you with a simple syllogism:
MAJOR PREMISE: GOD = WARRIOR
Exodus 15:3 - "The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name." (NIV)
MINOR PREMISE: YOU = GOD'S IMAGE + PARTICIPANT IN DIVINE NATURE
Genesis 1:27 - "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." (NIV)
2 Peter 1:3-4 - 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (NIV)
CONCLUSION: THEREFORE, YOU = WARRIOR!
By the transitive property.
Any questions?
It's simple, but that doesn't mean it's easy. You still have to AWAKEN your warrior spirit, and have the COURAGE to step out in faith to live the life of joyful discipleship Jesus is calling you into. One Bible verse that is so convicting for me with regard to this idea of 'awakening' is Romans 13:11-14:
11 Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; 12 the night is far spent, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; 13 let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (RSV + NIV)
Men of God, it's time to stop pressing the snooze button on the life Jesus is inviting you into. Wake up! Pick up your spiritual sword, get brothers by your side, ask for the help of St. Michael the Archangel, and start 'fighting the good fight' to push back the darkness in your own heart, in your family, in your parish, in your community, and in the world.
SERVIAM. I WILL SERVE!
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