Pray, Descend Holy Spirit
My late older sister was fond of saying: Those who cannot control themselves will be controlled.
I was reminded of this while reading a section of Thomas Kempis’s The Imitation of Christ that addresses the need to examine and moderate the desires of the heart. One word, “violence,” actually startled me, until I pondered it further: There are times when we must use violence and courageously resist our sensual appetite, having no regard for the likes or dislikes of the flesh; but rather, making sure that the body, despite its protests, becomes subject to the spirit.
It must be chastised and compelled to serve, until it is easy to obey in all things what the soul commands, and until it learns to be content with little, to delight in simple things and not to complain at any inconvenience. (Book 3: On Interior Conversation, Chapter 11, Section 5).
For clarity I returned to the chapter opening where Christ is explaining to the Disciple that he has still many things to learn. Christ elaborates: That you conform your desires and affections to My good pleasure, that you be not full of self-love, but a zealous follower of My will in all things. I understand well how desires sway you this way or that; but you should consider whether you are moved mainly for My honor or for your own interests.
Like millions of other Catholics, I struggle between right and wrong in response to the civil upheaval that threatens to suffocate if not destroy our Republic, but most importantly that which chains souls to their own eternal damnation. At times, we (I) stumble. The latest news on the killer of the Minnesota lawmakers is that allegedly he is “very Christian.” How did this child of God move from sorrow over martyrs in Zimbabwe to the contradictory rationale that it was somehow “permissible” to slaughter even those he may have concluded disagree with the sacredness of all life.
Then, though privately, I “killed” with thoughts and words aroused by the bombardment of “bad actors” enabled—actually excused—to terrorize major urban areas and assault law enforcement. The urge to retaliate rose like bile after an over seasoned meal, and I took my sense of helplessness out on the innocent around me. I had lost my peace of soul.
That the world seems to have gone mad in failing to distinguish good from evil, and the temptation to strike back quite fierce, we simply cannot excuse ourselves and take “the law into our own hands.” Instead we must pursue patience and perseverance, even though prudently and justly acknowledging and addressing the sins committed by significant populations. However, any success is predicated on first examining our own self wills.
Our Lord Jesus Christ who “put away the sword” and never addressed the incredible injustice at the release of the insurrectionist murderer Barabbas instead of Himself, expects us to model how to corral inordinate passions; grow in self discipline; and establish rightful self authority. He expects that the faithful persistently lead with authentic Christianity.
Although the Imitation of Christ was written six hundred years ago, every word in this guide still illuminates how we are to live our lives literally in imitation of Jesus Christ. Moreover, the short passage mentioned earlier also reminded me that the evil chaos we are currently witnessing truly originates in a misunderstanding of authority, beginning with understanding proper authority over ourselves.
Every conceived person was first created by the Author of Life, God, the primary authority over all life, yet with the extraordinary permission to exercise free will. He blessed each of us to be rulers over our being, all thirty trillion cells, managing every aspect of our lives.
In a way, each of us who has matured to be able to grasp that fact then must consider him or herself a unique kingdom where every subservient faculty must co-exist and be integrated into our whole being to express Truth and Love.
Indeed, we are the mistresses and masters of our being. This includes our sensory organs, such as eyes, ears, mouths, tongues, and touch; the intellect that correlates to learning, imagination and memory; and emotional regulation. Moreover, we are body and soul, so that the health of the latter must always take priority over the former.
At the same time we are compelled to bear living in a world that has slowly devolved into mob mentality that oxymoronically seeks power but lacks individual self control. And this deadly decline has its roots in defying perfect authority, first with self that acknowledges God, and then others.
Also, by tackling our personal weaknesses that undermine us despite our access to Sacramental grace, we will best understand that those thousands, many paid, protesters who wave “No King” posters do not know the King of Kings who could lead them to genuine prosperity and peace. Their darkened intellects blind them to the exceptional opportunities to exercise genuine freedom for good, in America. We should publicly lament that so many souls lacking grace choose instead to hate and that instead of exercising spiritual “violence” against themselves, these temperamental cohorts erupt with destructive designs towards perceived enemies.
So, let us be ever mindful to virtuously model self rule under God’s authority with the Ten Commandments as our castle’s guard towers, the Beatitudes as our inner light. Then when evil urges appear at the gate of our soul, we can “violently” repel them in sight of our weaker brothers and sisters and give witness to genuine peace.
Popular phrases today describe a worldly peace, including “peace through strength.” I would suggest it should be “peace through the imitation of Jesus Christ.”