The world spins as men try to defend their interests. Nations conspire against nations, and they all gather to proclaim peace, while each seeks to achieve a piece of each other. It seems we live in a world in perpetual conflict, if it is at war there is no peace, if it is at peace there is threat of war. The Lord says of this sorry state, "They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace." (Jeremiah 6:14). The News media has become the heralds, trumpeting the uneasiness that eats at all societies. Will this peace last? Or will we enter into those dark days when men became like savages, soothing their teeth like swords with skins of other men and painting their blades with stains of blood. There seems to be yearning in the fallen state of man to wage war or threaten war. Every lull in the leviathan's breath makes one wonder when flames will rekindle and the ranks of young lads swell like the coals on the fire.
How can we tolerate this tenuous state? Any moment the horns of war can blow and our world upside down. Shells may enter our homes, saran gas in our streets, and sophisticated bombs laced in our mail boxes, cars, or on a Saracen convinced it will purchase him or her paradise. How are we navigate this world of war? This unending conflict and threat of death? For secular person there is no remedy, no hope, and only the damnation the awaits in the next life because of their unbeliever. But for saint, the sinner turned seeker turned servant of Christ the King, there is a peace in middle of the parapets, tranquility amongst the turrets, and calm in the chaos. While world is lost in its war mongering, we find sanctuary in the Savior, peace in the Prince that will guard our frail hearts and festering mind, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7).
The beating of the drums of death drowns many in its dregs. Men forget themselves, challenging one another in combat and as they collide the world spins and spits out the souls of those who have fought on the stage of war. Pope Pius IX said of this endless state of sorties, "Since the close of the Great War individuals, the different classes of society, the nations of the earth have not as yet found true peace... the old rivalries between nations have not ceased to exert their influence... the nations of today live in a state of armed peace which is scarcely better than war itself, a condition which tends to exhaust national finances, to waste the flower of youth, to muddy and poison the very fountainheads of life, physical, intellectual, religious, and moral." Pius held that there was one solution to this insatiable thirst for blood and boons, "He deplored the rise of class divisions and unbridled nationalism, and held that true peace can only be found under the Kingship of Christ as "Prince of Peace". "For Jesus Christ reigns over the minds of individuals by His teachings, in their hearts by His love, in each one's life by the living according to His law and the imitating of His example." (Pope Pius IX, Ubi arcano Dei consilio, 1922). I praise the pontiff's words, for they are true. Only in Prince of Peace will the hearts and minds of men find peace and rest for their souls.
How the partitions of power divide us. Men of ambition and zeal erect veils between peoples. Hate is taught to each human, fear of the other and terror. Such teachings contradict the words of the King, "This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:3-4). Christ the King does not desire division, but disciples of all men, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20). Pope Pius IX was right, these wars "waste the flower of youth, and poisons the fountainheads of life, physical, intellectual, religious, and moral." Young men could learn to yearn to do the work of Yeshua (Jesus) and reach the lost souls of this world, but instead they train to Yeomen to fire arrows, rather than hold up Shields of Faith (Ephesians 6:16). The poison seeps into our veins at young age, the Romanticisms of war flood our minds in forms of Crusaders, Revolutionaries, Allied Forces, and Paladins. Our stories and legends make war a sport, a pageant with men in garlands and lances that are blunted, but real battle is ocean of blood and body parts.
These Romanticisms and sympathies for slayings are safe if they remain in the annuls, legends, and fantastic imaginations of men, but when they take form in the real realm of this world, the good fun fades and faces of friends are seen filleted and full of foreboding. The war games over, the real war ever before, if only it could be turned off as swiftly as the video game. The warrior's heart yearns for the Word of God to fill his or her's heart. The pang of all the powder, pieces of people, and pikes dig into the lives of husbands and wives in form of PTSD. Shellshock once it was called, the only remedy the Savior who can speak, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11"28). Rest, that elusive place the Ritter and war rider seeks. The restless heart that seeks a measure of peace after so much war, and yet in the silence finds more storms and swords singing from battlefields long a slumber. Only the Savior can silence the storm within, as He did on shores of the sea, "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm." (Mark 4:39). Warriors need the Word of God (John 1:1,14) to rebuke the waves, wind, and stormy waters of the sky in their souls.
Shame is not for soldiers, their sacrifice a service to those who live in safety. Defenders are not demons, and battles can be blessed because they protect the beauties of this world. But the storm that nations keep stoking, the furnace of fighting that keeps burning will not cease to consume the logs that are human. The sons of god (Genesis 6:2-4) who are the fallen angels such as Thor, Ares, and Mars inspire men to make war to bring death to their kind, but they can only kill the body (Matthew 10:28), the soul and spirit of the saved will go on to eternal paradise (Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9, John 5:24, Matthew 25:46). Those who trust and believe in Jesus Christ shall have everlasting life (John 3:16), and "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4). This is a promise to all who put their faith, trust, hope, confidence, security, purpose, and life in Jesus Christ, Christ the King.
Addendum:
There is Feast of Christ the King inspired by Pope Pius IX. It takes place on first Sunday of Advent or the Last Sunday of October before All Saint's Day (Traditionalist Catholic Date). The feat is celebrated by Roman Catholics, Traditional Catholics, Some Protestants and Anglicans.
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