This past Monday, we celebrated Veterans Day. According to the US Census Bureau, as of 2022, there are 16.2 million currently living US Veterans, the majority of which are from the Vietnam Police Action.
Why is this the case? Just a couple of generations ago, service in the U.S. Military was mandatory for males once they turned 18 years of age. There could be a deferment of service for college, or waivers for the physically unfit, but a large number of American males in previous generations shared an experience of service in one of the branches of the US Military.
While in wartime, the number of draftees increased, until 1973, the draft was still conducted in peacetime as well. This was to have a defensive force at the ready in case it was needed. While we should always work for peace, we know that we must always be on the defensive against those who would set out to cause harm.
As a Christian here on earth, we are also part of a militia. This has traditionally been called the Church Militant. When we pass on, we are a part of the Church Expectant (as we await our Final Judgment), and if we are judged worthy of Heaven, we would become a part of the Church Triumphant when we receive our final reward.
Here on earth, we are a part of the Church Militant. Why?
Well, that is because there is a constant battle between good and evil… God v. Satan, if you will. Satan is always out to tempt us away from God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
However, Satan can never force us to join him, he can only put out his best sales pitch. Just like the best Madison Avenue advertising agencies, he is very good at it. We are always being tempted to sin, as he makes it look quite attractive. However, the consequences of doing so are never part of the initial temptation.
We know that when we go against God and the way He created the world to be, there will be eternal consequences, but there are also consequences that we experience in this life. For example, if we are married and cheat on our spouse, it might feel good in the moment, but the consequences for the marriage, and even more so if there are children, can be devastating to us and them.
In the Universal Catholic traditions, there is a wonderful prayer that helps us out. That is The Prayer of St. Michael. It is:
Holy Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
In this, we are asking the Archangel Michael to help us fight against Satan and those who would try to deceive us into turning away from God through sin, either individually or as members of a community; be it a church, organization, city, state, or nation.
As we are all warriors in the Church Militant, we need to constantly be on guard for these situations, and hopefully, at the end of our time here on earth, we pass successfully through the Church Expectant, and arrive at the Church Triumphant as eternal veterans of the Church Militant. If we don’t, and fall into the temptations of sin regularly without receiving forgiveness, we will have a miserable eternity indeed.
Rev. John A. Cramer
Pastor Holy Trinity NCC, Kewanee, IL
