Resist | Lent 1
2.21.26 | Genesis 1 and 2; Matthew 4 | Fr. Benji Davis
The Basics of a Holy Life: Resist Sin and Temptation
Content
Holiness is not something idle, stagnant, nor a static state of aloofness. Holiness is active, vigorous, exercised, bursting with energy and vigor. It is an active resistance against the world, the flesh, and the devil, alongside an active seizing, taking hold of God and his Word and his Law. We must, therefore, be prepared to exert if we wish to strive for holiness. There is certainly stillness, patience, and waiting in the Christian life, yet there is also work, action, and fight.
Form
There is nothing fancy in the form of this poem. In revising, I decided to tighten the lines up, somewhat evoking a sense of military precision, an orderly marching of phrases. One key exception in this is where there are temptations—those lines which mention the potential “lulling allures” of the Devil, drift out of the tight order of the rest of the poem. Then, there is a swift return to the disciplined march.
Resist
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him
and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’Matthew 4:1-3
The holy man fights.
Holiness is no study
of books and theories.
Holiness is an act of war,
the holy one a warrior,
a fighter, a solider
marching against
all forces of evil
barraging our
bodies and souls.
This is Christ’s Christian,
the soldier of the King:
not demure and quaint,
but quarrelsome and fierce
against the wiles and guiles
of the evil one and evil ways.
He does not dither about, dilute,
or detract from the orders at hand,
the mission in mind.
The lulling allure of domestic comfort,
warm bed and bread, does not distract
and holds no sway for him.
The lulling allure of power,
a sense of dominance and glorious control,
he knows this to be false.
The lulling allure of self-sought ambition,
climbing the ranks at all costs,
has no stock for him.
He falls in line and steps to strike,
keen of hand and shrewd of eye
for the triumph of his king.
The holy do not drift
into such mettle, but
eat, drink, and dream,
discipline, drills, orders,
reprimand and praise.
By this the holy solider
shapes to a different mold.
In the midst of the fight,
every muscle is tuned,
each weakness named,
sure weapons polished.
He knows his true comrades
and takes heart from them.
He knows his true king
who fights by his side.
He knows man is made,
not by mere words, but deeds.