ENGAGE IN SPIRITUAL COMBAT

It has been a week since Lent began. The first Sunday of Lent gives us the reason that we have a 40–46-day period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. One important pillar is fasting and praying. Both of which were present in the gospel on Lent’s first Sunday of the liturgical season.

Every first Sunday of Lent Catholics hear about Jesus being in the desert for 40 Days and nights. Just before he was to kick off his three years of public ministry, he confronts the devil. He overcame the three temptations. He comes out triumphant by overcoming the sinister power of Satan who wanted to control him.

Like Jesus, we too are called to overcome Satan and every temptation of the world. It is not to make us weak but rather stronger in our spiritual journey. It is a calling to fight the devil in spiritual combat. It is not to go into the desert. Rather, it is to train our minds and spirits to beat him at his game.

When I was a kid (I grew up in the 90s which was probably the last best decade before everything begin the downward path of being woke) I remember a video game being released called “Mortal Kombat”. In the game, a fighter must compete in a tournament to eventually beat the main villain, Shang Tsung. Each opponent has abilities that a fighter has to dodge or counter. Otherwise, the user is defeated which opponents have their finishing moves that result in fatality. The game did turn into a flop blockbuster. Yet, the game is popular to this day.

In a sense we too engage in combat every day. St. Paul reminds us that our enemies are not flesh and blood but rather, “against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Satan figures out our weaknesses and does his best to exploit it for his advantage.

In order for us to beat him, we must receive the sacraments, pray our rosary offer a daily or weekly sacrifice. Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that we are made for greatness and not comfort. The world may make us comfortable. Sadly, too much comfort may explain the problems we are facing spiritually.

One of the temptations Satan offered to Christ was the world and its earthly power. Christ overcame it. Satan is doing the same to us. We must overcome his temptations now.

Prepare for combat. Fight onward, Christian soldiers