Do you remember the movie,
The Patriot, with Mel Gibson, which took place during the
Revolutionary War? He did not want any part of the war, but the war was
waging all around him. Eventually, he had no choice but to become part
of it when his son was murdered. Christians in Europe during World War
II may have wanted to ignore the war, even as Jews were being
transported to concentration camps, but soon the war came to them.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor in Germany, couldn’t avoid the
war either, even when he visited the USA. Eventually, he was sent to
prison and executed by the Nazis
“I don’t care about a spiritual battle; I am just trying to survive and
juggle all of the balls that I have in my life.” As an over-committed
and stressed-out Catholic man you may not want to be in a battle, but
you are in one whether you want to be or not. Every day, the evil one
attacks us — sometimes lulling us to sleep, other times tempting us to
lose our peace, getting us discouraged, overwhelming us with our kids or
problems at work, trying to drive wedges between us and our spouses or
others, etc. He knows our weakness and attacks the weak part of our
lives as often as possible. The evil one doesn’t take a day off in the
spiritual battle against us.
We are in a battle for our minds, a battle for our children and
families, battle for souls who don’t know the Lord, battle against a
philosophy that is defined by the values of this world. The evil one is
assaulting every part of God’s kingdom. We need to recognize that we are
in a battle every day, like it or not. But this battle is a winnable
one. Listen to these words from 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.
For although we are in the flesh, we do not battle according to the
flesh, for the weapons of our battle are not of flesh, but are
enormously powerful, capable of destroying fortresses. We destroy
arguments and every pretension raising itself against the knowledge of
God, and take every thought captive in obedience to Christ.
What strongholds are in us that set themselves up against the
knowledge of Jesus Christ? Discouragement, cynicism, fear and anxiety,
worldliness, isolation, judging others, problems at work, problems with
the kids, problems with the other men? What way of thinking or situation
do you feel: “I just can’t change this situation or way of thinking.”
These strongholds and thoughts rise up against the knowledge of God and
are at war against the life of the Holy Spirit in us. However,
Scriptures give us the proper response. Here is Romans 8:37-39 (with
some paraphrasing).
No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him
who loved us. For I am convinced that neither thoughts of
discouragement or cynicism, fear or anxiety, worldly values or
tendencies to become isolated, problems at work or at home, nor any
attack that stands against the knowledge of God shall be able to
separate us from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus.
And that is the battle that we face every day — whatever tries to
separate ourselves from the love of God is the major battle.
Victory is not only for us, but also for others.
But we are not only in the midst of a battle for our thoughts and minds;
we are also battling for others. We are battling for the souls of our
friends. We are battling for our children and grandchildren. Don’t we
sometimes feel helpless regarding our kids, especially if they have
moved out and are going through tough times? We are battling so that
others will be set free from evil and come into the Kingdom of God. We
may not see the benefits, but others will, and that will be worth it. It
may seem helpless, but it’s not — but that is how the devil wants us to
feel.
If we belong to Christ, then our lives are not for us. We are in a
battle that will benefit our wives, our kids or grandkids, our friends,
and many others. But we don’t belong to ourselves anymore. It’s going to
cost us our lives, and others will benefit. But isn’t that worth it? Our
lives belong not to us, but to God. If we are to sacrifice our lives to
God, it will cost us, just like Jesus.
2 Samuel 24:21-24 says: “Why has my lord the king come to his
servant?”
“To buy your threshing floor so I can build an altar to the Lord, that
the plague may be stopped.”
Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take whatever pleases
him…”
But the king replied, “No, I insist on paying for it. I will not
sacrifice to the Lord my God offerings that cost me nothing.”
Why fight alone?
Is this battle winnable? Not only is it winnable, Jesus
Christ has already won it on the Cross, through his death and
resurrection. And He has left us the weapons to fight and win this
battle as well. We have the truths of the Gospel, and all of Scriptures,
that are truer than any of our thoughts; we have the power of the Cross
where the strongholds in our minds can be crucified (sometimes slowly);
and we have the power of the Sacraments with all the graces that flow
from them. We also have the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of
prayer. We have many weapons to defeat evil, but it is a battle we
cannot win alone. We need other Catholic men willing to stand shoulder
to shoulder with us.
Have you ever seen a one-man army attack an enemy? No. Have you ever
seen a war movie where a soldier in a foxhole gets so frustrated that he
jumps out of the foxhole and attacks the enemy with his weapon blazing?
What always happens to him? We all need to stop thinking that we can
fight this battle alone. Why would we want to fight evil alone?
Evil never fights us alone. Their army includes the Evil one and his
fallen angels, the philosophy of the fallen world, and the influence of
the flesh. All these work in a concerted and coordinated fashion to
cause confusion, hopelessness, and lack of faith in God’s people. If the
forces of evil fight together, shouldn’t we fight together?
Have you ever noticed that it is often during the battles that we get
isolated? We all do that. We are going through a struggle and the last
thing that we want to do is to talk to another man. Where do you think
that comes from? Certainly, not from God. On the contrary, the
Scriptures have a lot to say about the importance of men supporting
other men.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their
work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man
who falls and has no one to help him up! (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
Where a lone man may be overcome, two together can resist. A three-ply
cord is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17)
How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity!
(Psalm 133:1)
A friend loves at all times. A brother is there to help in times of
adversity (Proverbs 17:17)
Are you part of a Catholic men’s fellowship group, where men pray and
support one another, grow in their faith together, and yes, stand
shoulder-to-shoulder with you? There are Catholic men’s fellowship
groups in parishes all over the country. If there isn’t one in your
parish, consider starting one. If you need some ideas on how to start a
men’s group or resources to use in a men’s group, come to the National
Fellowship of Catholic Men website.
by Maurice Blumberg
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