The Wolves Which Lie In Wait for the Just

Prayer-Soldier

The Wolves Which Lie In Wait for the Just

Scripture:

Let us therefore lie in wait for the just, because he is not for our turn, and he is contrary to our doings, and upbraids us with transgressions of the law, and divulges against us the sins of our way of life.

Let us see then if his words be true, and let us prove what shall happen to him, and we shall know what his end shall be. For if he be the true son of God, he will defend him, and will deliver him from the hands of his enemies. Let us examine him by outrages and tortures, that we may know his meekness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a most shameful death: for there shall be respect had unto him by his words.
(Wisdom 2:12, 17-20)

For where envying and contention is, there is inconstancy, and every evil work. But the wisdom, that is from above, first indeed is chaste, then peaceable, modest, easy to be persuaded, consenting to the good, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, without dissimulation. And the fruit of justice is sown in peace, to them that make peace.

From whence are wars and contentions among you? Are they not hence, from your concupiscences, which war in your members? You covet, and have not: you kill, and envy, and can not obtain. You contend and war, and you have not, because you ask not. You ask, and receive not; because you ask amiss: that you may consume it on your concupiscences.
(James 3:16 ? 4:3)

And he taught his disciples, and said to them: The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise again the third day. But they understood not the word, and they were afraid to ask him.

And they came to Capharnaum. And when they were in the house, he asked them: What did you treat of in the way? But they held their peace, for in the way they had disputed among themselves, which of them should be the greatest.

And sitting down, he called the twelve, and said to them: If any man desire to be first, he shall be the last of all, and the minister of all. And taking a child, he set him in the midst of them. Whom when he had embraced, he said to them: Whosoever shall receive one such child as this in my name, receives me. And whosoever shall receive me, receives not me, but him that sent me.
(Mark 9:30-37)

Reflection:

The evil ones lay in wait and plot against the just, for they see the righteous heart as an obstacle to their desires and schemes. If the law may be used to destroy the wicked, they ponder, how so may it be as easily used to destroy an opponent, no matter their innocence? They wait for a moment by which outrage may be raised and the innocent opponent might be convicted. Truth and justice are not their concern, only what they may convince others to believe. As they raise outrages in the public square, the evil ones do not need all the people to be convinced that the innocent one might be guilty; the evil ones need only enough by which power may be seized.

In the mind and logic of the evil one, the desire for power justifies any means by which it may be obtained or preserved, even the destruction of the innocent and the righteous; anyone who is deemed as an obstacle to their schemes. The one who plots to destroy an opponent requires no evidence, only a fabrication that some within the public square might believe and which turns the people against the righteous. Justice may be hidden. The truth may be trampled. The innocent may be put to death. It matters not. There is no injustice too great to stand in the way of the evil quest for power.

Through their schemes, wolves hide themselves within the cloaks of righteous shepherds and howl with outrage to all who will listen. They tug at emotion to weaponize the flock against their opponent, twisting words to make all believe the lamb is somehow a wolf. They salivate at the thought of the slaughter of the lamb whose flesh they will devour. Who will examine what is under the cloak? Who will come forth with the wisdom of Daniel to reveal what is really within the howls and motives of the wolves? (cf Daniel 13:42-59)

Envy, pride, and greed drive wicked schemes. They cause the heart to look only at the moment and what may be gained. They blind the eyes of the heart to the justice which shall come and what may be lost for the soul. The blinded heart does not see that all of this world and all of its evils shall decay and pass away. It cannot see the light which is the beacon to the eternal kingdom where love is shared by all and evil is not allowed a place.

And so we observe before us a world filled with evil. We might wonder, what if we were able to retain the innocence of children, but how is the child to prevail against the wolf, especially as the wolf lies in wait to consume the innocence of the child at the earliest moment? Still, there is hope if we find the wisdom, courage, and strength to take the hand of the One who will guide us in all which is right and just.

Though the wolf may have consumed our innocence as we pursued our life, all is not lost, for with a contrite heart, we may turn to the One more powerful than the wolf. We may ask Him to help us expose the wolves so we may protect our children. We may ask Him to help us expose the wolves so none of His flock may become victims of the wolves.

Let us, then, ask God in prayer, to grant us the wisdom by which we may see the wolf beneath the cloak of those who would lure us away from what is right and just. Let us, then, ask God in prayer to grant us the courage to expose the wolves who lie in wait to steal the innocence of our children. Let us, then, ask God in prayer to grant us the strength by which to protect our children and turn away from the temptations of the evil one. Let us, then, ask God in prayer to grant us the shepherds who will do what is right and just and who will lead the flock in all which is right and just so we may fulfill the commandments of love and the will of God may be done.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways are we blind to the schemes of evil?

In what ways may we endeavor to open the eyes of our heart so we may clearly see God's truth?

In what ways do we endeavor to protect our children from the plots and temptations of the evil one?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier