The pope’s mission intention for November is that the pilgrim church on earth may shine as a light to the nations.
As members of this pilgrim church, we know we are sojourners in a strange land, journeying on our way home. (Like the Wood Elvesin the Lord of the Rings.)
I have always taken comfort in the words of Christ to St. Peter about our Church:
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)
Only recently have I realized my error in interpreting these words.
I’ve always had the following image of sorts in my head when I thought about this verse…
(WARNING – more Lord the Rings references coming again… In my last blog I started with these references, so forgive me – I’m on a roll… as Professor Peter Kreeft once said in his book The Philosophy of Tolkien: The Worldview Behind the Lord of the Rings:
“…I constantly find myself saying, of this or that, “That reminds me of something in the Lord of the Rings.” In fact, almost everything reminds me of something in the Lord of the Rings.”)
Back to the subject at hand…
Imagine the battle scene at Minas Tirith in the movie Return of the King – when the orcs use a battering ram with the head of a wolf no less (remember, we are lambs among wolves) to knock down the gate to the city. They succeed.
Having not really thought about the actual meaning of the passage from the gospel of Matthew in any depth, I always assumed Jesus was telling us that those “orcs” will not succeed in knocking down our gates.
Only recently did the Holy Spirit decide to shake me up to realize what that verse is really saying. Jesus is not talking about the gates of the Church, but the gates of Hell. Those orcs are not attacking us. We are attacking them! We are the ones with the “every spiritual blessing under the Heavens” battering ram. We, the Church, with the help of Our Lord, are the ones who will eventually knock down the gates and free the souls condemned to eternal death.
As I contemplate what this truly means for us, all my thoughts of peacefully hiding while the Lord fights my battles for me, dissipate. He is asking us to come out from behind our gates and fight. For the Church is the means He will use for the salvation of the World.
The beautiful Regnum Christi Prayer for the Pope encapsulates well the way we should envision our task:
Christ Jesus, King and Lord of the Church, in your presence I renew my unconditional loyalty to vicar on earth, the Pope. In him, You have chosen to show us the safe and sure path that we must follow in the midst of confusion, uneasiness and unrest. I firmly believe that through him, You govern, teach and sanctify us. With him as our shepherd, we form the true Church, one, holy, catholic and apostolic. Grant me the grace faithfully love, live and spread our holy father’s teachings. Watch over his life, enlighten his mind, strengthen his spirit, defend him from calumny and evil. Calm the erosive winds of infidelity and disobedience. Keep your church united around him, firm in her belief and action, that she may truly be the instrument of your redemption. Amen.
We, the members of Christ’s church, with Christ as our head, will bring about the coming of the Kingdom of Christ. We will defeat the dominion of Satan in this world.
I have late in life learned to appreciate the meaning of my name – Kelly – which is warrior. Despite my 5-foot-1-inch, fifty-year-old body, my soul, when filled with Christ’s sanctifying grace, is quite intimidating and powerful. (Listen to the song Brave by Nicole Nordeman if you really need firing up…)
As all faithful Catholics know, we do not fight alone. God is with us.
So, forces of evil, bring it on!
Long live Christ the King!
