Put on the full armor of God

In this time of concern for the whole World, we who are Catholic Christians know that we can pray about and on behalf of all the people, places, and things affected by this affliction. We especially need to pray for our leaders in health, politics, and faith that all of them will work together in one accord to restore hope, healing, and health to all. This era of COVID-19 VIRUS is not just a battle against the diseases that attack our flesh, but indeed also against the "wickedness and snares of the devil." Many of us are praying to St. Michael, Prince of the Heavenly Host, to defend us against the army of evil that attempts with such vigor to oppress us. We are called to be in that Army of God which is commanded by St. Michael and includes the Angels – especially our own Guardian Angels. Like any army, we must be equipped and thoroughly furnished to enter into battle. God himself is our Armorer, so let us learn about how he has given us everything we need to fight the good fight. In four installments we will learn about the Armor of God and about Spiritual Warfare.

We continue with The Full Armor of God Part 2:

The Gospel of Peace

¹⁵ … and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. At the beginning of the description of the Armor of God, Paul says, "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." And soldier can tell you that one of the most important pieces of his uniform is his footgear. It has to be strong, well-fitted, suited to the environment, properly cared for to preserve its utility, and able to keep him from injuring his feet and/or ankles. A soldier who cannot stand and fight is at a huge disadvantage. He can neither advance toward nor retreat from his foe. Therefore his footgear needs also to be reliable enough to continue to protect him until at last the enemy is completely vanquished. For the soldier in ancient times, the footgear included what we would call shin guards; these were often brass plates fastened to dense but supple leather that protected the soles, ankles, and lower legs of the soldier. (The term "greaves" applies here. They were coverings of metal and/or leather used mostly by infantry soldiers – what we call "boots on the ground.") Often the soles of the footgear were enhanced with cleats or hobnails (short nails or screws inserted in the soles of the shoes to help provide durability and extra traction in slippery ground) to give better traction and prolong the life of the sole of the shoe.

So how is it that Paul likens Roman military footgear to The Gospel of Peace? Beloved, when we are standing on the Word, and have the Gospel of the Lord to help us keep our footing while engaging the Foe, we are more likely to be able to defend against his attacks and more capable of vanquishing him from our territory. When we are well-grounded in the Gospel through thorough study (as in the careful construction of the footgear) and proper application of the content and meaning of that study (as in the care and attention give to fastening on the soldier's footgear), then we can stand firm in "the Peace that surpasses all understanding." Thus, with such firm footing, we can enhance the effectiveness of the entire Armor which increases our confidence in our ability to stand against the enemy until we prevail. With this foundation of readiness which arises from the purposefulness of the design of our footgear – the Gospel, we can stand confidently on our knowledge of the Gospel and fight the good fight.

The Shield of Faith

¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. The shield is one of the most ancient defensive armaments. They are designed to fend of blows from an attacker and are usually worn on the arm opposite the arm wielding the offensive weapon – such as a sword. Shields in prehistoric times were made of leather, wood, and – in later times – metal reinforcements. The size and shape varied greatly over the centuries until around the 16^th century as the use of gunpowder became more widespread. For Roman heavy infantry, the shields were fashioned to be identical and able to lock together to provide protection from archers' arrows. This kind of shield was quite long – 3-4 feet so as to cover the body from neck to knee – and they could kneel behind it when there was a flight of arrows. It was mounted on a wooden frame and was comprised of multiple layers of hide. It usually also had a large metal knob or crest (called a boss) in the center and was rimmed with metal to protect the wooden frame. Although heavier than the small, rounder shields used in skirmishes or by cavalry, the "door shield" (scutum) was maneuverable enough that it could even be used as a weapon. One of the most dangerous offensive weapons was fire, and an enemy would use arrows or darts treated with combustibles. The fiery darts or arrows were intended to increase the danger to the foot-soldier in the hope of catching his clothing or flesh on fire and distracting or incapacitating him. The shield Paul describes was sometimes soaked in water to literally quench the fiery arrows, but even without water, the hides were taut enough that the arrows could just bounce off and be extinguished.

Paul likens that shield to Faith. Faith is build up in layers. Animal hides were the basis of the Roman shields, and throughout the history of the Hebrews – even in Paul's day, animal sacrifices were made by Israel as well as by other pagan religions. The wooden frame held the hides in place and provided a way to shift the position of the shield for better defense. The metal components added strength to the frame and increased the protection of the soldier by preventing fracturing of the frame.

Our foe, The Accuser, uses "fiery darts" and "flaming arrows" to great effect. There are the temptations he fires at us to distract, injure, and even defeat us on the battlefield. Our faith, like the Roman shield, must be built up in layers. Each time we learn to trust in the Lord instead of trusting our own strength, we strengthen the layers of our faith. Faith must have a framework that is strong enough to support our trust in God. The framework that supports faith is knowledge. The more we learn about God's heart and mind, his will and plan, the better protection we receive from our faith. The metal boss at the center of the shield and the metal rim around the shield could be said to represent our testimony of the power of God's grace. Testifying to God's protection through grace strengthens our faith and helps prevent damage to the trust and knowledge, the shield and frame, of our faith. In summary, our Shield of Faith is built up in layers of trust, strengthened and shaped by our knowledge of God's will and plan for our protection, made stronger still by our testimony about God's grace. That is powerful protection!

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever
— at your service, Belovéd!