With all the news of various wars taking place in our world, I began to consider a war that Saint Paul describes in Ephesians 6:12: “Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in the regions above.”
As I thought about that statement, I recalled being taught in preparation for confirmation that with the anointing of the holy oil, not only was I confirmed with the Holy Spirit, I was also anointed as a soldier of Christ. That was many, many years ago, but the question that caused me to pause was, “Am I combat ready?”
Saint Paul tells us that as we ready ourselves for service as a soldier of Christ, “we do not wage war with human resources. The weapons of our warfare are not merely human. They possess God’s power.” (2 Cor. 10:3-4)
Understanding this calls each person to “draw your strength from the Lord and His mighty power.” (Eph.6:10) Again in James 4:7, we hear: “Therefore submit to God; resist the devil, and he will take flight.”
Our strength as soldiers of Christ is found in surrendering to God, seeking His will in all things. Paul informs us that as we enter the spiritual battle, we do so by putting on the armor of God. (Eph. 6:11-17) Soldiers need to be properly equipped, and a reading of Paul’s instructions provides us with a detailed description on being properly equipped as we encounter the enemy.
In considering our role as soldiers in Christ’s army, it’s comforting to remember that many have battled satan throughout the Church’s history – Saint John Vianney and Saint Padre Pio, for instance.
Any decent military outfit prepares for combat by training. They prepare for battle by sharpening their skills. Fighting the spiritual realm requires the same serious, intense training. Areas the soldier of Christ needs to be proficient in and draw strength from are prayer, spiritual reading and frequent use of the sacraments.
The prayer life of the soldier of Christ must be faithful and consistent. Praying the rosary is a powerful preparation for battle readiness; the Liturgy of the Hours calls us to pray several times a day, helping to keep our minds focused on God. Spiritual reading, especially Scripture, informs us how the soldier of Christ is to live. Reading the lives of the saints gives us great background as to how the spiritual battle is to be fought. We draw our strength to engage in spiritual warfare from frequent reception of the sacraments, most especially the sacraments of confession and the Eucharist. Our baptism begins our training throughout our life.
The spiritual battle presents itself on two fronts. One is battling the evils of our present world, such as abortion, racism and bigotry. The second front is the one that becomes a bit more personal: the battle of our own spiritual well-being. This battle fights to develop and strengthen virtue within, fighting temptations against our relationship with Jesus.
Finally, having considered all the above, we need to ask ourselves each and every day, “Am I combat ready?”
Deacon James H. Rocks of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Collingswood, is a retired deacon of the Diocese of Camden.
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