A Great Comeback

Down 4-0 with only a 15 minute half remaining in the last soccer game before spring break. Disheartened at our poor performance--hope felt lost.

However, come the end of the second half, the seminarians came out on top with a 5-4 win. An incredible comeback inspired by a few simple words at halftime: “Is any player on the other team better than any single one of us?” There was a resounding “NO! If not one of them is better than us then imagine what we can do to them if we work together as a team!”
 
One can view this as luck or as a lesson for our spiritual lives.
 
What is it that makes a team go down 4-0? Why is it so hard to play the first half the same way that we were able to play the second half? It comes down to three simple facts. First, feeling that we are playing this game alone. We cannot do this without help. In the first half, our team was not working together. We were playing as individuals, not teammates. Second, we lacked an inner confidence that led to discouragement. Third, we didn’t persevere amidst trial.
 
The lessons we learned relate well to the spiritual life. Instead of an intense indoor soccer game, we are fighting a fierce and relentless spiritual battle. When we think we are fighting alone, we lose. When we try to fight the Devil alone we fail because without God we are nothing. There are a few steps we must take to win the battle.
 
We must first surrender to God, who is our primary teammate. We must let him know that without him fighting on our side, victory is not an option. We cannot win this fight without trust in his loving guidance. We must also have a firm disposition of hope that will prevent discouragement. If we have established trust in God as our protector, we are already almost there. We must recognize that we are far stronger than all of the demons combined as long as we place our complete trust in the Lord.

When we feel discouraged, the Lord asks us the same question proposed to our team, “is the Devil better than you when you and I are united and fighting him together?” The answer is quite obvious… What power is greater than the power of our omnipotent God?
 
God calls each and every one of us as his disciples to place firm hope in his love for us. He will protect us through every evil that may come to us as long as we allow ourselves to open up to being protected by him. In order to achieve this relationship with the Lord, we must become humble enough to say, “Lord, I cannot do this on my own, no matter how good I think I am. Father, I need your supernatural help in this fight.”
 
Perseverance in times of struggle are what makes our relationship with our Lord grow stronger. Every time we feel like a fight is hopeless, calling on our Lord for help, and then persevering with the grace that He gives allows us to ultimately defeat the Evil One. It was only through perseverance on the cross that Jesus ultimately defeated the Devil and gained salvation for everyone.
            
Recently, Fr. Griffin gave the seminary a virtual exhortation to pursue the virtue of courage above all else during the pandemic that we face today. This crisis threatens our hope. We must stand strong against the temptation to despair and “see what love that God has bestowed on us”(Jn 1:3) and is bestowing on us through this pandemic. We may find ourselves spiritually weak, separated from the sacraments and without our best weapon--the Eucharist. However, we remember the words of Paul speaking to the Ephesians, “In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”(Eph: 6:16).

During this time, faith in God is our best weapon. Surrendering ourselves to his divine and blessed plan is the most important thing for us to do at this time!
 
We must have great hope in his loving care and know that with God’s assistance, there is no reason to become discouraged for the Devil will quickly become a very beatable opponent. 
 
Have faith and persevere with great hope of obtaining eternal joy in Heaven. For St. James tells us, “Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that He promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12)