‘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 breast-plate, 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.” (Ephes 6:10-17).
Action heroes seem to be the rage in movies all across the world. Not only have we been treated to re-workings of Batman and Superman lately, but we have also seen incarnations of Ironman, Spiderman and the Fantastic Four. More films are on the way. My bet is that they will be out soon at a theater near you.
Action heroes have always been significant. I have been teaching religious ed. since I was a junior in high school. I recall that one day during my first year of teaching the pastor came in to listen to my class and review my work. He listened quietly for a while and then asked the kids what I had taught last week. I was teaching 1st graders at the time. A number of kids raised their hands and I selected a boy named Peter. I can still see his face today. He was one of the more articulate students in the class. He always paid attention and I figured I might be okay if he just answered the question. Well, he did a fine job…..sort of. He did relate the story of the Prodigal Son, which had been the topic of the last class. However, Peter had a very vivid imagination and he included Batman, Superman, Captain Courageous and about every other super hero you have ever heard of and then some. I made the mistake of asking Peter if he really remembered me mentioning these superheroes and he replied, “Oh yes, Miss Marie, that was the best part!” (Can you just begin to imagine the angst of a 17 year old with the fear of God in her heart?)
Now, I assure you I had not included those superheroes in the lecture and I was very concerned with what the priest was now thinking of my teaching style as a young teenager. However, I was able to ask the kids what the characteristics of a superhero might be and we then all agreed that Jesus had those characteristics and then some. But, the story is meant to indicate the significance of super people in our lives.
Why? What is it about superheroes that is so appealing? Is it their sense of confidence and invincibility? Or is it the way they seem like ordinary, everyday people, but actually have access to some secret power that makes them extraordinary?
The Bible itself can give the impression that we can be like superheroes if we learn to “draw [our] strength from the Lord and from His mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10). I think Ephesians really reflects that we can be much more than any superhero conjured up in some local movie theater. If the superhero’s characteristic is that of invincibility, confidence and access to some secret power, we have it head and shoulder over any rendition of Batman, Superman or Wonder woman. After all, who is more powerful than God? And if we have access to God’s mighty power—which we do because of God’s grace—then we can (and should) do awesome things.
God equips us to face the issues that confront us each day. We don’t have to look for trouble, but we will have what we need once evil confronts us.
Let’s look at that particular passage of Ephesians again, and identify the instruments that Paul lists: a breastplate, boots, a shield, a helmet, and finally a sword. Did you notice that only one is a weapon? The rest are meant as protection against attack. They are defensive—rather than offensive weapons.
Certainly the sword might indicate that we should go out and actively confront the issues of the day. The Church certainly does do that.. But, most of the time, we do not need to look for an opportunity to take a stand. The issues of the day seem to find us. They seem to find us at our weakest and most personal point, too.
Is it a lack of patience when the phone rings with one more person complaining while we are trying to feed our family dinner?
Is it a sense of pride that is hurt when others overlook all of our hard work?
Is it some other bad trait that just keeps poking its head up day after day despite all of our best efforts to tame it and put it to rest?
A breastplate is a piece of armor that protected the breast or torso of the individual from injury. It protected the wearer’s core. Being righteous —knowing and living in the truth—keeps us close to and one with God. This righteousness, as evidenced perhaps most strongly in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, is our anchor. It is the rock upon which our lives depend and upon which any response to the evil of the world must be based.
Boots will allow a person to come to the aid of another or flee when a response won’t work. There are times when a response is called for; when we must speak the Gospel to those around us. However, the recognized need for peace also indicates that there are times when such a response can’t work and should not be made. Jesus told us Himself,–“Do not cast your pearls before swine.”
The helmet of salvation will assist us in discerning those times when we should respond or flee. That same gift of discernment will govern when and if the sword of the Spirit should be used. The sword belongs to the Spirit, though. It is not ours to wield on our own behalf —but only upon the discretion and determination of the Spirit.
Why must we be so equipped? Why is this important? Because there is a battle going on all around us, and we need to be aware of it. Generally, our calling in life is not to actively wage war against enemy forces. Instead, we wield the defensive equipment to serve our larger duty. Our greatest calling is to build the kingdom of God– keeping our eyes on Jesus, not on our enemies. We simply need this armor to protect us when the devil tries to wear us down.
Always, we must stand behind and upon our faith. This is our protection. It is God who will protect and defend us. Even when we question, and those questions are necessary and good, we recognize that faith exists despite and as a result of our need to know more about our God and Savior.
So, let us remember to equip ourselves each day with the armor of faith and to ask our Lord to help us learn how to stay alert to the spiritual battles we face as we endeavor to build up God’s kingdom on earth.
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