The Combat Zone 

   “Let us always keep it before our eyes that here on earth is a place of combat and the crown is received in heaven; that here is the proving ground and the prize is up there; there here we are in a land of exile and our true homeland is heaven, to which we must continually aspire.” (St. Padre Pio) 

   God created the world to be a paradise.  A paradise to be lived in by us and all humanity.   Through the temptations of Satan, Adam and Eve renounced paradise in their effort to be like God, able to determine good and evil for themselves.  In their pride they lost paradise for themselves and for all mankind.

   I think every generation has, at some point, thought it was worse than it had ever been before.  I know many who think that of this generation.  But reality says that every generation has had their trials, hardships brought on by the sinfulness of mankind.  This one is worse than some and better than others.  It will continue this way until the Lord comes again in glory.

   Earth is a combat zone; battles fought daily between those who try to follow God and Satan.  These battles will continue, and we will lose some of them and fall into sin.  But Jesus came that sin might be forgiven, that we still might aspire to our heavenly home.

   Paradise still awaits us, but not in this life. The struggles, the pain, and the trials we face in this, our exile, are not the end. We still battle, but the war has been won. We must live our life so that we, like St. Paul, can say, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 7). 

I am in exile.

I am in a world of sinfulness and evil.

I long to come to You

To the paradise that awaits. 

Amen