Victory in Christ

Today's been a rough day, Catholic-wise. More and more I find myself in discussions and debates about church teaching. It excites me really, because I relish the opportunity to try and help my class mates understand the Catholic Church's teachings, rather than just be force-fed them. I love that they ask me questions, and I try with passion and with grace to answer them to the best of my ability. But sometimes it's exhausting. I'm not a strong person. I have faith and I have answers, but I don't have a suit of armor. Many times I'm in tears by the end of it, not because I feel persecuted or like I'm failing God, but just because spiritual warfare is exhausting.

 It's hard to expose what you believe, heart and soul, to people who question, doubt and even attack those very beliefs. It's hard to be constantly on your guard to not say something completely objectionable. It's hard to know how to appeal to the hearts and minds of typical teenagers when I myself (if there was any doubt) am quite far from a 'typical' teenager. It's hard to carry the crosses the Lord throws at you.

But you know what? It's not me carrying them. I fully believe that everything I say and do to defend the Church is not through my own intellect or wisdom, but by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. I'm just the messenger.

One of my most beloved Bible readings comes from the start of Philippians. It's a beautiful passage, and keeps me going on days like this. Some of St Paul's best words come from here:

"I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, I shall be set free. It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my whole beings whether I live or die. For what is life? to me, it is Christ."

"Whatever happens, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel."

And the words that resound in my heart as I defend our Lord:

"Do not be afraid of your enemies; always be courageous, for this will prove to them that they shall lose and you shall win, because it is God who gives you the victory. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for Him as well. Now you can take part with me in the battle."

It is GOD who gives us the victory. 

I used to think that this meant that because I believed in God, I would win every battle, convert every soul and triumph over all adversity. 

Today I realised something different.

Having God does not give us victory. Having God is victory.

It isn't about winning the debate. It isn't about having the stronger logic or the best argument. 

Maybe I'm not as strong as I should be. Maybe I don't have every answer. But my faith that God is truth has set me free. There is no battle to be won. For the only victory, the only prize worth fighting for is that which we already have: the love of our Lord and Saviour. 

Nothing can take that away from us. No-one can deny us the unconditional and redeeming love of God. We have a right to know God and to know that we are loved.

The only battle to be won is helping others to know the same.

--

AMDG

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death- even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus Christ, every knee should bend in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.