The Eternal Battle and Christ’s Victory By Fr. Gerrity on December 25, 2024
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The Eternal Battle and Christ’s Victory

Creation and the Beginning of War

From the very beginning of the creation of mankind. We were born into a war, a supernatural war. Because although God created Adam and Eve in peace. What the devil desired more than anything else was to tear that peace, to sit down. He wanted to destroy the order and the structure that God had created. So he immediately created the vision. The very first action he caused, the very first sin that entered into the world was one of choosing ourselves over that, over the order and structure and peace of God. And every sin after that is just a continuation of that very same spirit where we choose and decide that we are going to fight against God rather than for him.

The Victory in Christ

And. Christ comes into this world when Christ came into this world on Christmas Day. The war was won. The battle that had been going on and raging for thousands of years. Continues. But the war is one. Our Lord Jesus Christ always wins, always will win. Because that is his very nature. He is the prince of peace. He comes and he reestablishes all peace.

Our Role in the Ongoing Struggle

But we must be conscious of two things. First of all. That the piece, even though the even though the war is won, the battle still rages and it will rage until the end of time. The end of time, everything's already settled. But while we are here on this earth, we are born into a war. And we are on the side of the angels. By grace, by baptism, by virtue. We are on the side of the angels. But that does not make us angels. We still have to fight every day of our lives and every moment of our existence for the purpose of sanctifying our soul and of being on the right side.

The Challenge of Recognizing Victory

We have to fight for the fact that God has given us this blessing. Not that we merited it, not that we earned it. But this is the war that we are born into. And we must also recognize the fact that even though the victory is already won. For the world and for God. That is not the case for us. We are still in danger of falling into the disorder and chaos. That this world provides for us, and that is the result of sin.

The Joy of Christmas Amidst Battle

So therefore, how are we supposed to take Christmas knowing these mysteries? Well, the first and foremost was a great sense of joy. It doesn't matter if we have to fight. It doesn't matter how terrible the war is. It doesn't matter for an instant. But we are in danger. Because the Prince of Peace has won the war. And all we are doing is doing our little bit in that victory. If we recognize that fact. We will save our souls. But only if we recognize that fact.

Proclaiming Christ as King

We must recognize the Prince of peace, our Lord Jesus Christ himself as the one true king. And we must proclaim that, and we must fight for his rights every moment that we are alive. If we do not, if we do not, we are not living up to our vocation. Our Lord Jesus Christ, of course, is going to use human instruments to perform His battles. He is going to use us in to wage the war against the war of the flesh and the devil, against the disorder that has been perpetrated against his structure.

Our Role as Instruments of Peace

And so that is where we step in. Each and every one of us is an instrument of that peace. But the problem is. We always are susceptible to our own natures. We are susceptible to our own caprices, desires, whims, whatever else. We are slaves to ourselves and to our desires and pleasures. And so Christmas Day is a moment of hope for us that through our slavery, even though we are slaves, Christ comes to free us.

The Light of Christ in Darkness

And even though we're not good Catholics, he is coming to sanctify us. And even though we may not know the way he is coming here to show it to us. And even though the world is dark, he comes of being the light. Not just bringing the light. Being the light. And even though we are hopelessly outmatched, even against our own weaknesses, sometimes he gives us strength.

The Importance of Hope and Faith

The one thing we cannot do is get discouraged because God is here among us. Emmanuel, God with us. Our Lord Jesus Christ is God and he is here. And as such, the war is won. And it does not matter what the price is for us to fight. And part of that is part of that war. We must step up and fight it. We must bear our part of it. And we must do so with a generosity, a unity, and a power that is absolutely beyond us.

Living as Faithful Soldiers

But we must see Christ above us at all times. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the one reason that any of us has hope. He is the one reason why we know that the darkness cannot win. He is the one reason that we know that the victory is ours if we so follow him. And as such, our Lord Jesus Christ is the one thing we should care about above all else. And our Lord Jesus Christ is the one person that we should gladly die for, above all others.

Dedication to Christ's Cause

And our Lord Jesus Christ is the one person to whom we should dedicate ourselves completely and totally, as are as willing slaves. Our Lord Jesus Christ is King, and as such, we must be His faithful subjects in all times and tribulations. And so we must follow him, subjecting ourselves completely to him and ignoring all other things. Everything else is a distraction. Nothing. Nothing else matters.

The Spirit of Peace and Warfare

If we have the spirituality of our Lord Jesus Christ as king. We will be faithful soldiers in the battle for souls and the battle for the light. Because he is the prince of peace. Peace comes at a cost. It comes as they say. If you want peace, prepare for war. The war we must wage is on ourselves. The war wage is on a lower part of the war. We must wage is on the effects of original sin in our souls.

The Cost of Peace and Victory

And that is the battle we must never shrink from at any moment or instant throughout our entire lives. We must dedicate ourselves to that battle regardless of anything else. He comes bringing peace. But he comes. Bringing it through the sword. And each and every one of us must wield it not against each other, against ourselves, against the world, the flesh and the devil.

Proclaiming Christ the King

Not for our sake, not for our benefit, but just simply to proclaim Christ the King because he is. Because we want the tranquility of order, which is the definition of what peace is, which only he can give. And because he is the only one who can give it. And as such, we dedicate ourselves entirely, wholly, perfectly and together in this fight, regardless of everything else. Christ always comes first, last and always. He is the only thing and the only person who matters.

A Call to Faithful Service

Let's make that a reality. Declaring today in the peace of the night of Christmas and then the joy that is come because he is here, let us proclaim ourselves as faithful slaves and his faithful soldiers dedicated entirely to his service so that we can extend his kingdom throughout this Earth and we can be a part of his ultimate victory in heaven.

Summary

The text delves into the concept of spiritual warfare that began with the creation of mankind. Although the devil introduced disorder, Christ's birth and subsequent actions ensured the ultimate victory over sin and chaos. The victory of Christ is an unyielding truth, though the battles against sin continue. We are called to fight daily for our sanctity, to remain vigilant as Christ uses us as His instruments in this ongoing supernatural war.

To truly embrace the joy of Christmas, we must recognize Jesus as the Prince of Peace who has already won the war. Our duty is to align ourselves with Him, fighting against our own sinful tendencies and proclaiming His kingship. Christ's presence offers hope, light, and the promise of salvation. The dedication to His will ensures our role in extending His kingdom on Earth and sharing in His eternal victory. Thus, we must prepare for an inner battle, carrying the spiritual weapons of faith to secure true peace.