The Combat of Lent: Facing the Enemy

03-16-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Leonard F. Villa

Satan makes his presence universal, either directly or through demons or through perverse men-sending some to this city or to that, throughout the whole world, so that no province, no place, no state of life, no single person is overlooked. Consider the text: “Enraged at her [the Virgin Mary’s] escape the dragon went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep God’s commandments and give witness to Jesus.” (emphasis added) Fr Andre Ravier S.J. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius

St Paul reminds us: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 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.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6 (emphasis added)

The tactics of the enemy: tempt them through craving for riches. This is the way it all usually begins so that people will more readily be carried away by the empty honors of this world and finally by overweening pride Therefore the first step is wealth and the power it brings; the second worldly-honor, and the third is pride.  By these three passions the devil will lead a person to all the other vices.  This is told to us by St. John telling us not to love the world in rebellion against God because the characteristics of the world in rebellion against God are out of order bodily desires; out of order desire for possessions.  The out of order is key: the tendency to make these things idols and the self as an idol in place of God which is the root meaning of pride. 1 John 2:15-16

The strategy of Jesus for victory: detachment from the goods and riches of this world (some Christians will receive the grace to embrace actual poverty); taking on the contempt and humiliations of the Evil One and the sinful world to stand with Jesus Christ and His Cross; and humility which means the recognition of who God is and who I am.  He is God, I am not. I owe Him everything and I bend my knee to Him in love and worship. He has called me to be His son or daughter. But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Timothy  Fasting attacks our vices, elevates our minds, and bestows virtues and its rewards.

Through sanctifying grace, first bestowed in baptism, God made us family in the blood of Christ and gave us the life of Heaven because this grace means that God has made our humanity His Temple and godlike, sharing His divine nature, not through human pride or grasping, but out of His love for us.  All the sacraments exist to make us like God and fulfill our true goal. St Irenaeus says: We are not made gods from the first, but first men and women, then gods. Against Heresies, iv, 38. Christian combat makes war on mortal sin which kills God’s life in our souls and on deliberate venial sin. Mortal sin exists when: the matter is something serious, the person knows it is serious and fully consents.  Mortal sin is forgiven by a perfect act of contrition, which means that the chief motive of the sorrow for sin is God’s love, not fear of punishment, and going to Confession.

One of the chief tragedies of our times, especially from Christians, is the violation of Sunday’s and Holy Days. The Third Commandment requires we Keep Holy the Lord’s Day. The Church reminds us this means especially participating in Mass because Mass makes present Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.  The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation remains, even if one is not in a state to receive the Eucharist worthily. The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. Those who deliberately fail to participate in it commit a grave or mortal sin. The virtue of religion reminds us we owe everything to God and are called to worship Him.  The Mass is the perfect act of worship because it is Jesus Christ offering Himself to God the Father on our behalf and not because we are perfect. We are to immerse ourselves in the Mass because we are sinful and in need.  Lent reminds us to be generous with God and give Him His due and full time at Mass without checking out early.  St Paul reminds us now is the acceptable time to be better Catholics. Now is a great time for God’s grace to reform our lives. The worst type of atheism is claiming to believe in God but acting and living as if He did not exist.