“At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.” (Mark 1: 12 – 13)
Writing and reflecting on my desert experience in 1996, I wrote the following:
“My desert experience represents positive cosmic cycle for genuine riches. The solitude, the long period of prayers, study and reflection, the harsh experiences had all contributed in making the soil of my soul fertile to receive God’s graces and blessings. Among the blessings received during this period are the following:
- The Holy Spirit
- Vision of the Enterprise
- Our Mother of Perpetual Help
- Word of God
- Prayer
- Deeper faith
- Patience
- Wisdom
- Freedom from alcohol.
The positive cosmic cycle for genuine riches is the negative cosmic cycle for material riches. It does appear that the two conditions are irreconcilable. I am resolved to accumulate as much genuine riches now as possible. This the “favorable time.”
In Ephesians 6: 10 – 17, St. Paul urges us to put on the full armor of God. It is recognized here that Christian life is one relentless and ruthless spiritual warfare. The enemy is cruel and cunning. His strategy is to disarm us little by little. First, he wants to take away our helmet of salvation; then the breastplate of integrity. Next he grabs the belt of truth, then the shield of faith and the boots to proclaim the goodnews of Jesus Christ. Finally, he reaches for the sword of the word of God. At this time, we are totally naked, disarmed and defenseless before him.
The weapons of man are useless in fighting spiritual warfare. Saul gave young David his armor to use to fight Goliath. David found the armor, cumbersome, impractical and useless. He preferred to use the armor of God and he vanquished Goliath.
I see the armor in my life corresponding to the 5-Way Plan:
- The word of God
- Prayer
- Eucharist
- Reconciliation
- Spiritual reading
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