PART II

 

 

 

20. THE CROSS, THE SWORD AND THE WAR ON EVIL

 

"Let us be pierced through by those pains, by these sorrows, and let the sword, lance, or dart be well tempered that the wound of love may be deeper. For the deeper the wound of love, the sooner will the prisoner be freed from the dungeon." (St. Paul of the Cross, CP)

 

As I gaze on a crucifix, I realize that if I grab it from the top of the vertical beam, as I did before, imagining to be holding a key in my hand, it seems now that I am holding a sword. (click link to view) It reminds me of what St. Paul says about the Word of God being like a sword that penetrates into the deepest areas of our soul.

 

"Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

 

Truly, Christ, the Word of God, speaks to us in a very human way in regard to what the Love of God is all about, and how we are challenged to live by the same standards as Christ had for us. We are also shown the consequence, if we don't follow Him knowingly or unknowingly. As mentioned before, the Cross shows us what true love is about in its maximum expression, and what evil is capable of doing also in its maximum expression. The 'sword of the Word of God' separates clearly the two realities as Simeon announced to Mary, the mother of Jesus.

 

Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."  (Luke 2:34)

 

One thing that many people seem to fall into, is having a passive image in regard to the reason why Jesus died on the Cross. Simply to say, "It was the will of the Father for our Salvation", while being true, may lead us to forget that Jesus had it coming, for what he stood up for. Anyone who stands up to evil, and to the people who promote it because they have chosen to live in evil ways, is going to 'ruffle the feathers', so to say. This vision is very clearly presented in 'Christ the Liberator' by Leonardo Boff. We see Jesus constantly confronting the religious leadership of his time. Obviously when he creates a ruckus in the temple, that was like 'the last straw'.

 

They came to Jerusalem, and on entering the temple area he began to drive out those selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area. Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written: 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples'? But you have made it a den of thieves.”

The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it and were seeking a way to put him to death, yet they feared him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching. When evening came, they went out of the city." (Mark 11: 15-18)

 

The war against evil reaches its peak on the Cross, when Jesus confronts with Love and forgiveness, the maximum force of evil that is discharged against Him. (cfr. Luke 23:34)

 

It is the power of the Word of God, which is more powerful than any other type of power, be it political, financial, or corrupt religious power, which is amply shown in the Bible.

 

Though the wicked flourish like grass and all sinners thrive, they are destined for eternal destruction; but you, Lord, are forever on high. Indeed your enemies, Lord, indeed your enemies shall perish; all sinners shall be scattered." (Psalm 92: 8-10)

 

It is the power of Love that defeats Satan, with his deceit, lies, hatred, confusion, arrogance, oppressiveness, or divisiveness. Even when there are times he is winning a battle, the war is ultimately won by God's forces. God has His ways, which are mysterious and surprising, even when He 'writes the journey of history with crooked lines'. Did not the Israelites have to wait 400 years to be liberated from oppression and slavery in Egypt? We must never loose hope! The Lord may take his time, but ultimately the victory is His.

 

"But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord, one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day." (2 Peter 3:8)

 

This is a spiritual battle, as St. Paul reminds us, because it is the Evil One who manipulates us human beings to choose evil ways. We are all called to fight this spiritual battle with Christ, who, as King, reigns forever. As we have quoted before:

 

"Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.  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.  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.  So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:10-17)

 

The spiritual war that is fought, is totally baffling in the mind of humans, as it starts through the humility, poverty, fragility, and smallness of the power emanating from the baby Jesus.

 

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest, as they exult when dividing the spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, the rod of their taskmaster, you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for fire.  For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests." (Isaiah 9:1-5)

 

And it reaches its powerful peak, when Jesus hangs on the Cross, bearing in mind that the crucifixion was considered a punishment destined to the worst criminals of his time.

 

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the learned I will set aside.”

Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish? For since in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith. For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called Jews and Greeks alike, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)

 

It is the power of Love, which develops and spreads through the power of humility. Here is a reminder of the text I quoted earlier on to grasp the power of humility:

 

Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11) 

 

And this brings us to our part in the building up of the reign of God, with the mother of Jesus, Mary, who leads us with her example of life.

 

Who is this who comes forth like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners? (Song of Solomon 6:10) (ESV/NABRE)

 

Yes, Mary urges us on, in this spiritual battle, when this text is symbolically applied to her. She emerges as the humble servant pleasing to the Lord, and through her intercession, the powerful and wealthy are brought low, while the humble are elevated.

 

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty...” (Luke 1: 46) (ESV)

 

We must remember though, that this is a spiritual war. We could think: why did not the humble Jesus bring down the power of King Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great? Quite the contrary: Herod tried to slay Jesus. The same is true, that the powerful at the time of the Crucifixion had Jesus put to death. Even the apostles were awaiting Christ to establish his Reign in a worldly fashion by defeating the Roman oppressive reign in Israel, but as Jesus said to Pilate: 'my kingdom is not of this world'. Let's look once more at the words of the 'Magnificat': "he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts…" Yes, by degrading themselves with such horrific behavior, they lower themselves in dignity, and before others, lose all sense of respect. They will have to live with a guilty conscience for the rest of their lives, unless they are psychopaths who don't feel any guilt. Meanwhile, Jesus' power, in his smallness, humility, simplicity, draws others to Himself, starting with the shepherds, the magi, and later on, those close by when He hangs on the Cross (cfr. John 12:32). This leads even the centurion at the foot of the Cross to say: "truly this was the Son of God" (cfr. Matthew 27:54)

 

But the spiritual war has to lead us ultimately to other areas of life which should be in consistency with the interior life. There is a saying that saints produce good people…good people produce indifferent people. We are called therefore to be holy people, to have a true effect on others, and even to have influence on the different structures in society. A valid liberation theology will deal with this as expressed in the first Vatican document on Liberation Theology. Liberation from the spiritual slavery of the heart should find external expressions in society in consistency with the internal.

 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of freedom and a force for liberation. In recent years, this essential truth has become the object of reflection for theologians, with a new kind of attention which is itself full of promise.

 

Liberation is first and foremost liberation from the radical slavery of sin. Its end and its goal is the freedom of the children of God, which is the gift of grace. As a logical consequence, it calls for freedom from many different kinds of slavery in the cultural, economic, social, and political spheres, all of which derive ultimately from sin, and so often prevent people from living in a manner befitting their dignity. To discern clearly what is fundamental to this issue and what is a by-product of it, is an indispensable condition for any theological reflection on liberation. (Instruction on Certain Aspects of the Theology of Liberation. 1984)

 

 

 

 

21. THE CROSS AND OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

 

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