Is there a situation in your life right now that’s calling you to stand up and defend your faith and values? What’s keeping you from doing so? - Daily Reflections October 30,2014

THE COURAGE TO SPEAK

 

What Paul says in his parting words to the Ephesians is what he proves himself to be — courageous in the face of seemingly  insurmountable opposition. Emotions are free-flowing in every line. Passion and dedication mark almost every word, and both strength and preparedness shine through images and figures of speech that smack of warfare.

       St. Paul was a man on fire and was fanning the flames of that same courage in the hearts of his hearers. His choice of words, the rapid-fire staccato of imperatives, show a man ready and girded for spiritual warfare and goading his followers to tread on the same path of righteousness.

       Not a sign of wimpiness here, my friends. No scintilla of doubt that he was one who would easily retreat into a wishy-washy attitude characterized by harmless political correctness. He speaks of armor and the need to “stand firm against the tactics of the devil.” Paul was not one who would dance palsy walsy with evil in any form.

       I confess there was a time in my life I chickened out. I led a group from civil society to fight against a very real growing menace in the community where I was, a threat so diabolical in that it was poised to strike at the heart of society by corrupting the young. A letter with a veiled threat did me in. I succumbed to mortal debilitating fear — for my safety, for my life.

       In our times, the menace is more subtle, but no less insidious – the tyranny of moral relativism that is twin sister to widespread secularism. God is veritably eclipsed by a false belief that faith is on a different plane from life, that reason ought to have the upper hand on faith, and that faith ought not be worn on one’s sleeve.

       In the midst of such an onslaught, our knees crumble, our legs wobble, and our hearts tremble. We need strength. We need to stand fast. We need to put on the “armor of God” and “hold faith as a shield.” We need “to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel,” and have the courage to speak, as one must. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Is there a situation in your life right now that’s calling you to stand up and defend your faith and values? What’s keeping you from doing so?

 

Grant me courage, Lord, to do what I must to protect and defend my faith, Your truth, and Your Church.