October 7, 2004

We are at war! I am not referring specifically to terrorism or Iraq. “For our struggle is not with flesh and blood, but …with the evil spirits in the heavens”. (Eph 6:12) As Peter Kreeft aptly points out in his insightful book, How to Win the Culture War: A Christian Battle Plan for a Society in Crisis, we have only two enemies. “Our enemies are demons, fallen angels, evil spirits… I said there were two enemies. The second is even more horrible than the first. There is one nightmare even more terrifying than being chased by the devil, even being caught by the devil, even being tortured by the devil. That is the nightmare of becoming a devil. The horror outside your soul is terrible enough, but it is not as terrible as the horror inside your soul. The horror inside our souls, of course, is sin.”

Often blind to my own sin, I am tempted to demonize people who are not following the Truth that God has revealed. Jesus calls us to see even these people as potential saints. I often want to call down lightning from heaven upon people who are into serious evil; then I remember that 15 years ago I would have been struck myself! God’s ways are not our ways. Thank God for His mercy! His mercy is motivated by His love and desire to see all of us in heaven. Hell is full of sinners. Heaven is full of sinners who repented!

One of the greatest examples of God’s mercy is the conversion story of Norma McCorvey (formerly Jane Roe of Roe versus Wade). Coming from a background of tremendous suffering and darkness, this former poster child for the abortion movement is now a pro-life Catholic! This happened because dedicated Christians never gave up praying for and loving her. Overwhelmed by the greatness of God’s grace, I wept many tears as I read her book, Won by Love. Yes, this is the secret weapon that will win the war - God’s merciful love shining through us.

This week we celebrated the feast day of Saint Faustina, the Apostle of Divine Mercy and first saint to be canonized in the new millennium. Jesus once told her, “I demand from you deeds of mercy which are to arise out of love for me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse yourself from it… On the cross, the fountain of my mercy was opened wide by the lance for all souls, I have excluded no one!” Along with the good thief, Saints Monica and Augustine, and Saint Therese and Pranzini as our inspiration, let us never give up on anyone. God doesn’t.

Fr. Luke Fletcher, CFR
Vocations Director, residing at Saint Joseph Friary in Harlem

Peter Kreeft, How to Win the Culture War, at www.ivpress.com
Norma McCorvey, Won by Love, at www.roenomore.org
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