It is often said that the enemy of the human being is another human being. We, as humans, are injured by fellow humans. Nevertheless have we ever stopped and pondered a little in order to correct our faulty thinking? Who motivates the human being to inflict harm on another being of his kind?
In his Letter to the Ephesians Saint Paul was bold enough to address the issue with an impressive depth. He blatantly says: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph 6, 10-12).
Saint Paul’s portrayal of the existential struggle of the human being with the forces of darkness is magnificently echoed in one of Heinrich Schlier’s writings: “The enemies are not this or that person, not even myself. They are not flesh and blood... The conflict goes deeper. It is a fight against a host of opponents that never stop coming; they cannot really be pinned down and have no proper name, only collective denominations. They also start out with superior advantage over man, and this is because of their superior position, their position ‘in the heavens’ of existence. They are also superior because their position is impenetrable and unassailable – their position, after all, is the ‘atmosphere’ of existence, which they themselves tilt in their favour and propagate around themselves. The enemies are, finally, all full of essential, deadly malice.” The armour of God is what is needed to successfully restrain and defeat these malicious enemies. Saint Paul demonstrates God’s armour to us within the same letter to the Ephesians. “Therefore take the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (the Christians)” (Eph 6, 13-18). Let us put on the armour of God against the defeated powers of darkness, for the victory with, in and through Jesus Christ, is ours already!
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap, San Gwann