The Advent Battle Goes On - Part II
So here we are, brothers, united in battle - the Advent battle. We're brothers in the struggle. Isn't this great? We can struggle together. You're not alone.
Sometimes us men can feel alone in our daily struggles. But Advent unites us. We know that there are millions of other Catholic men at work who have joined the battle, all at the same time. All of us can help each other start anew. , to prepare our hearts in a special way, for the Christ child.
Imagine millions of us, all over the world. Yet we sometimes feel alone, isolated in our work. We sometimes feel as if no one's facing the battle we're facing - whatever that may be.
In Advent, a season of special grace, we can remember we're not alone. In years past, the Church referred to all us living Christians as the Church militant. Unfortunately it's fallen out of favor. Some people think it's a kind of aggressive term that marks the "old" Church (pre-Vatican II) - an "intolerant" Church. Of course, that's all nonsense.
Growing up (you may remember this too), we learned that the Body of Christ consisted of the Church Triumphant (those in Heaven), the Church Suffering (those being purified in Purgatory) and the Church Militant (those still battling on this earth against evil, and striving for Heaven). Militant wasn't an "intolerant" term. It wasn't even really a military term. We weren't looking to take over the world.
I makes perfect sense - a typically rich, deep teaching image that brought all Catholics together as part of the Christ's body - together in prayer and work.
And that's us Catholic men - together in prayer and work; not alone.
Advent renews and refreshes us. It calls us to the battle with renewed energy and enthusiasm. It refreshes our world-weary spirits and directs us to the one source of refreshment that will keep our minds on our prayer and work throughout our tough days: Jesus Christ.
We think of Him, created a man, just like us, waiting now to be born. We think of the struggle the mysteriously pregnant Mary had convincing Joseph that she had not betrayed him; the struggle Joseph had believing her. We remember their difficult journey to Bethlehem, heeding the call of the Roman census, with Mary just about to give birth - and the difficulties of travel in those days.
All these thoughts can sharpen our minds, refresh our spirits, enliven our hearts in preparation for not on Jesus' birth, but a renewed year of prayer and work - and struggle.
The battle begins again. Don't lose heart. Keep up the struggle, brothers in battle. Remember the Church Militant.
Sometimes us men can feel alone in our daily struggles. But Advent unites us. We know that there are millions of other Catholic men at work who have joined the battle, all at the same time. All of us can help each other start anew. , to prepare our hearts in a special way, for the Christ child.
Imagine millions of us, all over the world. Yet we sometimes feel alone, isolated in our work. We sometimes feel as if no one's facing the battle we're facing - whatever that may be.
In Advent, a season of special grace, we can remember we're not alone. In years past, the Church referred to all us living Christians as the Church militant. Unfortunately it's fallen out of favor. Some people think it's a kind of aggressive term that marks the "old" Church (pre-Vatican II) - an "intolerant" Church. Of course, that's all nonsense.
Growing up (you may remember this too), we learned that the Body of Christ consisted of the Church Triumphant (those in Heaven), the Church Suffering (those being purified in Purgatory) and the Church Militant (those still battling on this earth against evil, and striving for Heaven). Militant wasn't an "intolerant" term. It wasn't even really a military term. We weren't looking to take over the world.
I makes perfect sense - a typically rich, deep teaching image that brought all Catholics together as part of the Christ's body - together in prayer and work.
And that's us Catholic men - together in prayer and work; not alone.
Advent renews and refreshes us. It calls us to the battle with renewed energy and enthusiasm. It refreshes our world-weary spirits and directs us to the one source of refreshment that will keep our minds on our prayer and work throughout our tough days: Jesus Christ.
We think of Him, created a man, just like us, waiting now to be born. We think of the struggle the mysteriously pregnant Mary had convincing Joseph that she had not betrayed him; the struggle Joseph had believing her. We remember their difficult journey to Bethlehem, heeding the call of the Roman census, with Mary just about to give birth - and the difficulties of travel in those days.
All these thoughts can sharpen our minds, refresh our spirits, enliven our hearts in preparation for not on Jesus' birth, but a renewed year of prayer and work - and struggle.
The battle begins again. Don't lose heart. Keep up the struggle, brothers in battle. Remember the Church Militant.
Comments