My dear brothers and sisters in Christ peace be with you. In the readings for today's mass we come across the beautiful theme of Christian courage. That is that we stand firm through the grace of God in truth without losing our capacity to love when things become difficult.
In the first reading Saint Paul reminds us that our true enemy is not another human being, but the evil that seeks to corrupt the human heart. In fact, he says, “for our struggle is not with flesh and blood, but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness” (Ephesians 6:12). Now mind you, we do have to contend with temptation that comes from our fallen human nature. But a lot of temptation comes from the evil one the evil one and the angels that followed him out of heaven and became demons. So we are continually in the battlefield of temptation that comes from the world, from our own human nature and from the fallen spirits.
Notice however that Saint Paul Says that the weapons he proposes are not violence anger or retaliation but truth righteousness. faith, peace, and most importantly of all prayer. Christian strength is not the ability to overpower others, but the grace to resist evil without becoming evil ourselves. How many times when we're angered even in traffic for example? Do we retaliate with some gesture of violence? I know it happens to me as well, and it's something that I need to personally contend with on a daily basis especially here in Rome in the crazy traffic. But the point is We do not respond with violence or anger and that's a journey. That's something we have to work towards.
In the gospel, Jesus demonstrates the very spiritual strength that Paul is describing for us. He is fearless, in confronting evil, and yet his heart remains full of compassion for those who reject him. Our lord, bemoan, the rejection of Jerusalem. And he says, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who killed the prophets and stoned those sent to you, how many times I yearn to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings” (Luke 13:34).. But you were unwilling. His courage does not make him harsh, and his compassion does not make him weak. Even as he approaches Jerusalem, knowing the suffering that awaits him, his deepest desire is not vengeance, but Jerusalem's ultimate good its salvation.
In the approved rule Saint Francis of Assisi says this about how the friars are to conduct themselves in the world. And he says, “let them not quarrel or argue or judge others, when they go about in the world, but let them be meek, peaceful, modest, gentle, and humble, speaking courteously to every one.”
Saint Francis is reminding us that the christians spiritual battle must never become a battle against people. We are called to oppose evil while remaining instruments of peace. In the major legend in chapter nine Saint Bonaventure describes Saint Francis's extraordinary compassion which extended even to those who opposed or mistreated him. Now, my brothers and sisters, Saint Francis's strength came not from himself, but from his union with christ enabling him to respond to hostility without surrendering his commitment to peace.
My friends, Saint Paul tells us to stand firm against evil, and Jesus shows us how to stand firm without ceasing to love. The challenge is not simply to remain faithful when we encounter opposition, but to preserve the compassion of Christ in the very midst of that opposition. Christian courage is not measured by how forcefully we confront our enemies, but by how faithfully we love while refusing to compromise the truth. In all things, my brothers and sisters, let us keep our gaze focused on Jesus. For when the going gets tough, it'll be Jesus who sees us through the darkest moments in our lives. Amen.
Add comment
Comments