“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”
Jesus knew that he was not fighting a battle against flesh and blood. This made him free from the temptation to take his human opposition more seriously than they deserved.
For our struggle is not with flesh and blood
but with the principalities, with the powers,
with the world rulers of this present darkness,
with the evil spirits in the heavens.
When we make the mistake of seeing our struggle as against those who disagree with us, politically, morally, religiously, or philosophically we commit ourselves to battles that we aren't meant to fight, and which may not be winnable. We become emotionally invested in outcomes that cannot be guaranteed, which indeed will at least sometimes fail to come to pass.
Doesn't it seem difficult for us to live with the same sort of freedom that Jesus demonstrated? After all, there were real political stakes in his day. There were real issues of truth and justice that different groups embodied or did not embody. Jesus did care about truth and justice. But he knew that his problems could not ultimately be solved by politics. He resisted every effort to make him a king (see John 6:15). This was the temptation the devil offered when he showed him "all the kingdoms of the world" (see Matthew 4:8). Would Jesus try to struggle against flesh and blood to set these things right? No. Would he simply ignore them as irrelevant? No. Instead he cut to the heart of the problem, and in doing so enabled us to realize who are true opponent is and what battles really matter in our own lives today.
‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.
The corollary to the risk of taking our opposition in this world too seriously is the risk of ignoring the greater reality of the spiritual battle in which we find ourselves. We may be very active in our engagement with politics, for example. But if so, are we still more engaged in the spiritual battle? As much as we spend time coming up with strategies and plans to approach the issues we encounter in our natural life, do we spend more ensuring the we are armed and ready for the spiritual battles which are even more real?
Therefore, put on the armor of God,
that you may be able to resist on the evil day
and, having done everything, to hold your ground.
We can't be useful in politics or religion or anything else if we are already a captive in spiritual combat. As well meaning as we may be, we won't be able to exercise the power that could make a difference. We will utterly lack that freedom. That is why we must protect it.
The spiritual combat is not subjective. It is based on the revealed truth of God as the most basic thing without which we are defenseless, and, as it were, our pants are down.
So stand fast with your loins girded in truth,
For this reason, too, faith is a shield that keeps us safe from lies about ourselves, about God, and about the world.
We need to rely on the righteousness that comes from God rather (see Romans 3:22) than that which we have to create for ourselves. Doing so avoids the risks that come from having something to prove to others. Any other righteousness is fragile because we are flawed. It leaves our hearts exposed.
What is the purpose of our fight? For what are we called to be prepared?
and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace.
We are called to be ready to spread peace in the world. It is, as Jesus tells us, the peacemakers who are blessed (see Matthew 5:9). How unusual this is when we reflect on it as the purpose of our battle. Has there ever been another army with this goal? Even for us, it is easy to lose sight of this vision if we forget our real enemy and fail to take seriously the need to wear the armor God provides. When we forget the real battle we get caught up in a back and forth and the need to try, somehow, to preserve our own lives against the onslaught that comes from all directions. Rather than letting ourselves be determined by circumstances, we are called to take an active role, to be makers and maintainers of peace. If we forget we are in a battle we might assume that peace can be achieved by simply being passive. But we have a weapon in this fight and we must use it.
the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.
By word and prayer we conquer those enemies which are our true enemies, those which oppress, not just one group or another, but all mankind. We overcome by the blood of the lamb of the word of our testimony (see Revelation 12:11). By fighting this battle, by simple perseverance with the tools we have been given, our victory is assured.
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