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Spiritual Warfare: Be Sober and Vigilant
by Brian
Whenever I see the words "spiritual warfare" I am immediately drawn to the story of Fatima. During one of her visits Our Lady showed the shepherd children a vision of Hell. The children were horrified because they saw souls being thrown into a lake of fire. These poor unfortunate souls were the casualties of a monumental war that continues today and will last until the end of time.
St. Peter says in his first letter, "Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for some one to devour."(1Peter 5:8) What strikes me about this passage is how St. Peter refers to the devil as an "opponent". I looked up the word "opponent" in the dictionary and discovered that it also means "enemy". The devil is our enemy. It's as simple as that.
The devil's strategy is simple. It is to lead us away from Jesus. What can we do to counteract the devil's strategy?
- First, frequent the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
- Second, use sacramentals, such as: the holy scapular, miraculous medal and holy water. These spiritual gems have great power.
- Third, don't neglect prayer. Pray the Rosary daily, read Scripture, meditate and reflect on the life of Jesus.
- Fourth, seek the protection and guidance of the Holy Angels.
- Lastly, strive to live a life of faith, humility, purity and charity. The Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph will help you excel in these virtues.
I am sure you can add much more to what I listed above. There are many spiritual tools that can help us fight against the tactics and wiles of the devil. All we need to do is use them and stay committed to moving forward in the spiritual life. The spiritual battle that surrounds us will only end when we die and enter God's kingdom. The bottom line - this spiritual battle is not going away. We can either fight the world, flesh and devil or become a casualty. There is no middle ground or safe haven.
Whether you like it or not, dear Catholic, you are in the middle of a war. And this war is the mother of all wars because what is at stake is nothing less than eternal salvation. If you are a bit hesitant to fight in this battle just remember three things. First, you will be fighting under the banners of Jesus and Mary. Second, eternal salvation is at the heart of this battle. Lastly, the book of "Revelation" tells us - We Win!
May St. Michael the Archangel, under the banners of Jesus and Mary, lead us into battle so we may conquer the world for Christ.