the red badge of courage
“That night the Lord appeared at Paul’s side and said: “Keep up your courage!’ ” —Acts 23:11
As we near the end of this Pentecost novena, Jesus says again: “Keep up your courage!” We can be courageous, not because circumstances are getting better, but because the Holy Spirit cries out in our hearts “Abba” (Father) (Rm 8:15; Gal 4:6). We have not received a cowardly spirit (2 Tm 1:7) nor “a spirit of slavery leading” us back into fear, but a spirit of adoption (Rm 8:15). We are courageous and fearless because we are adopted children of God, our all-powerful and all-loving Father. The Holy Spirit makes us deeply aware of this. Therefore, we not only have no reason to fear but we know we have no reason to fear. We are secure. By the Spirit, we know that the Father loves us as He loves Jesus (Jn 17:23). We live in the Father’s love (1 Jn 4:16), and this complete “love casts out all fear” (1 Jn 4:18).
We are in a war against demons (Eph 6:12). We are in “culture wars.” We are fighting for our lives and the lives of so many others. Jesus continues to say: “Have no fear. Take courage (see Mk 6:50, RSV-CE).” “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn 20:22). Know the Father’s love. Believe Jesus. Take courage.
Prayer: Father, I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing (1 Cor 9:26). I fight by the power of the Spirit (Zec 4:6).
Promise: “To them I have revealed Your name, and I will continue to reveal it so that Your love for Me may live in them, and I may live in them.” —Jn 17:26
Praise: St. Christopher Magallanes gave his executioners absolution before he was martyred.
Reference: (For a related teaching on Spiritual Warfare, view, download or order our leaflet on our website.)
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