The Church Militant

   In World War II France was over-run by the Nazi forces.  The French underground fought a silent, hidden war to help the Allies win the war.  In many wars there have been a small cadre of men and women who risked everything to fight the invaders.  In the Church these are the martyrs.

   The world in which we live has been invaded.  Not by human armies and navies but by Satan and his demonic forces.  We see it everywhere we look.  Terrorists who are quite willing to kill innocent people, men, women and children to make a point; many times committed in the name of Allah, God.  Children are killed in the womb; the elderly are urged to commit “assisted suicide”.  Those with physical or mental challenges are pushed aside; almost expected to cease being.  Life seems to no longer have value.

   Satan’s forces are strong and seem to be getting stronger.  Yet, history shows it has always been this way.  The world has never accepted God’s ways; our faith has always been denigrated and persecuted.  This is nothing new, we just experience it as new and believe it to be worse than ever.

   As Christians we must be the resistance fighters in the war between good and evil.  When evil occurs we can’t ignore it and go on our way.  When we take no action we allow evil to continue.  We are the Church militant; we are the forces of God.  If we only knew the power we have in prayer and the strength God gives we could overcome so much evil in the world.  Sadly, we often feel that we can do nothing; so we don’t even try.

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph 6: 11 – 12)

Lord, give us the armor of faith.

Give us the courage to battle evil in this world.

Amen