The Battle for Heaven...

"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by FORCE!" -Matthew 11:12 (NAB)

"Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven." -Apocalypse 12:7-8 (NAB)

“Is – is he a man?” asked Lucy.

“Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion.”

“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”

“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”

“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King I tell you.”
                   -The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - by: C.S. Lewis

Saint Michael the Archangel,

defend us in battle.

Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;

and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -

by the Divine Power of God -

cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,

who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

None of these quotations are very "Peaceful." This past Sunday, if you went to a Norvus Ordo Mass (Post Vatican II style Mass) you heard the Gospel of the Beatitudes. "Blessed are the peacemakers." Yet, why then are all these passages talking about war, battle, and strength? Isn't the way to heaven "peaceful?" Are we not supposed to turn the other cheek?

I think too often we take one phrase from the Bible or theological teaching and apply it to things and contexts for which it was never intended. Heaven may be a peaceful place, and as I described in the last post Jesus says we must become like children to enter into Heaven. Why then do these images exist? I think that for a long time the idea that we must become meek and lamb-like have been pushed at us, especially us men. I think we need to get a ferocity back, that of a lion or eagle so that we may enter the Kingdom of God.

I am not saying that we as men, or as people should become violent, mean, or abrasive simply to take on a persona of strength. True strength is witnessed many time through in-action as opposed to action but there is something to the idea of having a "Strong Persona." There is also something to the idea that we are currently "...in battle." We should not pretend as if the Devil does not exist or that evil is not a real and tangible thing. We must recognize that our souls are in a battle for salvation and eternal life. The best way to prepare for this battle is to believe in Christ, to live in his way and of course to go to Church and receive the Sacraments.

Men play a vital role in this. We are protectors of the family, of our society, and of ourselves. This does not mean that women have no place in this fight. Much as the women and children stood amongst the ranks of the men and the adults in the "Chronicles of Narnia" movie, here to on Earth they must battle against evil in whatever way they can. Yet, men possess the role on earth that more readily places them "in the line of fire."

We cannot fool ourselves into thinking that if we are quite, mild, meek, and peaceful that it somehow will ensure our ticket to Heaven. We are called to speak out, act out, and protect the virtues and principles of God. Whether we do this in politics, our careers, or even while raising our children, we must be vigilant and strong in our role. Predators prey on the weak. Think about the nature shows you have seen, and think about which gazelle or wildebeest get eaten? It isn't the aggressive or the fast, but instead it is frail and the weak. We cannot become those frail and weak animals, and we cannot allow our children to model themselves after such a person. So take up your arms, go to Church, receive the Sacraments, and take the Kingdom of heaven by force!!

**UPDATE**:
In light of what happened at Ft. Hood today... I thought about taking this post down, but I think that it actually is even more vital that this message be read. Evil does not hide, it does not lay in wait, and it strikes when we are most vulnerable. Fighting force with force isn't always the answer, and I am not promoting violence. What I am trying to say is that when evil attacks, turning the other cheek doesn't always work... sometimes it only gives them a second target. We must put on the armor of God and secure our place in his Kingdom.