Life is a Battle

God’s word relates that life is a battle. “Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle….” (Ps. 144:1). But this is mainly a battle against the Devil and his angels. Since Satan has been permanently excluded from the heavenly bliss, he wants to bring as many as possible to his kingdom, which is the hell fire of everlasting torment and punishments (cf. Rv. 12:7-17). The very finality of each and every person is either heaven or hell. Yes it’s true there are 4 last things: death, judgment, hell or heaven. But the very last, depending on your conduct is either eternal punishment in hell or eternal bliss in heaven. Find this out for yourself by reading Mt. 25:31-46, before it’s too late. In that part of the Bible Jesus shows who will be rewarded or punished eternally, that is, who goes to heaven or to hell.

Earthly life is constant battle against temptations from within and without. The devil makes use of our pride and vanity to tempt us to worldliness. So Jesus warns us: “What will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his soul?” (Mt. 16:26).

Doing battle also means using the right strategy. It’s different from facing a lion or a dog, because in such case, if you run away the dog or lion will run after you and bite you. In the spiritual battle of fighting off temptations to sin, the strategy to win relies on prayer, the sacraments, and God’s word. Meditating on God’s word will surely bring many benefits to the soul. Jesus has assured us: “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt. 4:4). Some saints, like St. Alphonsus, had said you have only to blame yourself if you get to Hell of eternal fire since God in His mercy has provided for the means of repentance and conversion, if you ask for it sincerely, seek for it sincerely, knock for it sincerely. “For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him” (Mt. &:7-12). God’s word cannot lie nor be mistaken. We need the graces that are the fruits of prayer, meditation on God’s word and the Sacraments to strengthen us against temptation. “Be calm but vigilant, because your enemy the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. Stand up to him, strong in faith and in the knowledge that your brothers all over the world are suffering the same things” (1Pt. 5:8). The Lord Jesus had said—“The truth shall set you free” (Jn. 8:32). Consider therefore the triviality and transient nature of all things in the world and learn the eternal truths. With the help of prayer and grace you may come to realize the grain of truth in the sentence: When you reach the bottom you have only to go up. Of course this implies the attitude of being humble and therefore more considerate and kind towards others, more understanding, and happy at the success of others. “The Lord Jesus Himself said: “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving” (Acts 20:35). Is there reason to be proud of earthly beauty or virility? There’s a food for thought from that Spanish rhymed expression: hoy en figura, mañana en sepulture (today a figure of beauty, tomorrow in the grave). There’s no room for pride in the passing things of earth that blossom today and vanish as quickly like a delusion. So God’s word keeps on convincing us to be humble and rely on God. “If you live in the shelter of Elyon and make your home in the shadow of Shaddai, you can say to Yahweh, “My refuge, my fortress, my God in whom I trust!” (Ps. 91:1-2). “Happy the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, but delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night. He is like a tree that is planted by water streams, yielding its fruit in season, its leaves never fading; success attends all he does. It is nothng like this with the wicked, nothing like this!” (Ps. 1:1-4).

Are All Religions the Same?

Some express as if all religions were just the same so as to be accommodating and appear permissive. But such an attitude does a disservice to the truth. Surely “the truth sets us free” (Jn. 8:32). But to water down the truth and say all religions are the same is tantamount to saying there is nothing true at all. Just like that Spanish saying that runs like this: “amigo de todos, amigo de ninguno” (friend of all, friend of none). If you consider some as your friends, it’s because they are familiar and in good relations with you.

In the world we have to be persistent seekers of the truth. Why? Because the devil who is a murderer and the father of lies (Jn. 8:44) keeps on working with his many agents to bring as many as possible to hell, which is a place of endless woe, despair, and punishment. Amid the confusion and distractions of our world we must learn to be discerning and have a critical mind in constant search for what is truly good, right and just in opposition to the agents of the devil who keep on twisting the truth. That’s a false statement to say – all religions are the same. What is truthful is that we have to respect man’s conscience and freedom to search for the truth. The first letter of St. Peter, the first pope, says: “Be calm but vigilant, because your enemy the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. Stand up to him, strong in faith and in the knowledge that your brothers all over the world are suffering the same things. You will have to suffer only for a little while: the God of all grace who called you to eternal glory in Christ will see that all is well again: he will confirm, strengthen and support you. His power lasts forever and ever. Amen (1 P.5:8-11). We have to constantly be in search of where and what is the truth since you cannot say that even if there are conflicting statements all of them are true. Let us respect the freedom of every person to seek for the truth.

The Worries of Today

We need to re-focus our minds so as not to be burdened by the distressful worries of our day that only affect our health. And worrying much will not solve the problems, like the bills to pay, the food to buy, the clothes we need, the relationships we need to mend. Jesus invites us to a solution. And where is that re-focusing? He says: "Come to Me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest" (Mt. 11:28). Is it necessary to worry? The Bible says: "Unload your burden on to Yahweh and he will support you; he will never permit the virtuous to falter" (Ps. 55:22; 1P 5:7). Of course, instead of worrying, do what you can, leave the rest to God.

Common sense may tell us this common proverb: "If you can do it, why worry; if you can't do it, why worry." The refocusing we need rather means trusting in God fully and endeavoring with all our might to seek to keep His will (cf> Mt. 6:33). Just be true to yourself and consider whether you are God's servant or a slave to money, worldly pleasures and things of the world. If you are God's servant, seek to do His will with all your heart, in the simple sincerity of a little child (cf. Mk. 10:15, Mt. 18:3).

The Approach of Faith

Some put on airs as if they were bright and knowledgeable of mysteries but then they miss the point and lose their faith or true knowledge. Even in the matter of knowledge in the world there is need of humility to listen and obey, how much more as regards the mysteries and secrets of God’s kingdom. One related the story of a monk who had a visitor intent on learning the secrets of a life that is truthful. As he poured coffee liberally into the cup of his visitor, the coffee spilled from the cup. The monk told the visitor “That’s your first lesson.” In order to learn you have to be like an empty cup ready to receive the pouring of water, otherwise you will not learn much when you believe you already have all the answers. Then you will fall into that pitiable feature of a proud person – a “little knowledge is dangerous”. The truly wise person is willing to listen since he knows there is still so much to learn.

Jesus has clearly outlined the approach to faith. It does not mean a total absence of signs or motivations but rather as expressed several times by our Lord, it is an attitude of sincerity and simplicity as of a little child. “’I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ Then he put his arms round them, laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing” (Mk. 10:15); refer also to Mt. 18:3 and Lk. 18:17. Such should be our attitude to the life and miracles of our Savior Jesus Christ. St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, the only priest stigmatist, once spoke to a certain convert of his, Federico Abresch: “Faith is not to be argued over, either you accept it with your eyes closed, admitting the inadequacy of the human mind to understand its mysteries, or you reject it. There is no middle way. The choice is up to you.” You can see therefore in world history how those who prided themselves in their knowledge of the world were not able to grasp the divine truths and teachings of Jesus and His Church in spite of the miracles He had performed by His divine power. The culminating miracle in His life was His Crucifixion and Resurrection from the dead, a fact witnessed by hundreds of people, which goes to prove the way of Jesus as the way of love, truth and goodness. Hence St. Paul in the letter to the Corinthians describes love as: humble, patient and forgiving (cf. 1 Cor. 13: 4-13).

Does God Provide?

The language of non-believers and the worldly is usually negative with respect to God’s merciful care for humans. They keep on talking of overpopulation and food shortages plus a thousand other mixed problems. But when the Son of God, Jesus, came to our world, He indicated the clear facts to us. “Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father takes care of them. How much more of you, are you not worth much more than they? And why worry about clothing? Think of the flowers growing in the fields; they never have to work or spin; yet I assure you that not even Solomon in all his regalia was robed like one of these. Now if that is how God clothes the grass in the field which is there today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, will he not much more look after you, you men of little faith? So do not worry; do not say, ‘What are we to eat? What are we to drink? How are we to be clothed?’ It is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and these other things will be given you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Mt. 6:25-34).

Even the great Carmelite mystic, St. Teresa of Avila, expresses a fact --“God took care of us in the past, till this very moment he has taken care of us, therefore there is no doubt he will take care of us in the future.” Trust in God is a reality. God is alive. Yet he works His miracles when we deeply and sincerely trust in Him. So He says in Mk. 9:24: “Everything is possible for anyone who has faith” - and in Mk. 11:24 “I give you my word, if you are ready to believe that you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer, it shall be done for you.” Many people have found this statement true based on their true and sincere faith in God and deep personal experience.

Psalm 33:16 expresses the deep trust in God thus: “A large army will not keep a king safe, nor does the hero escape by his great strength; it is delusion to rely on the horse for safety, for all its power it cannot save. But see how the eye of Yahweh is on those who fear him, on those who rely on his love, to rescue their souls from death and keep them alive in famine.”