Thursday, the Second week of Advent

“Jesus said to the crowds: "Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear." –Matthew 11:11-15

I spent seventeen years serving an agency that fought terrorism, whose principle training tenet was: The intensity of violence rules the day. My friends, never forget we are at war, and we must train to be violent.

It began on two fronts, one in Heaven and the other in Eden. God decimated the enemy in both battles, casting him out like lightning falling from the sky, yet God allows the battle of Eden to still rage around man.

We must become comfortable with the weapons God has given us and wield them with violent precision. Prayer, humility, faith, fasting, and almsgiving are but a few of the tools at our disposal. Give praise and worship to our Lord, and watch the enemy scatter.

The enemy screams from the battlefield, “You are alone,” because he cannot see. But Christ, the Power behind our assault, sits comfortably relaxed behind each of us on the battlefield. So, fight the enemy with savagery as if your life depended on it, because it does.

Saint John of the Cross, pray for us.

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Jesus, I trust in you!