Combo mode

Father, how can we overcome once and for all our weaknesses?” Lawrence asked during religion class.

“That would mean you’re already a dead man, Lawrence.” The class burst out in laughter at Father Daniel’s reply.

“I know that…,” Lawrence continued with his serious tone.

“I’m just joking, but what exactly do you mean by all, Lawrence?” Father Daniel asked.

“I mean, how can a person manage to have a more definitive power over the enemies of his soul, like the devil, the world and the flesh?”

“Definitive power?” Father Daniel tried to see where Lawrence was coming from.

“I’m sorry, Father. I know I sound like I’m speaking about the spiritual life in super hero terms, but sometimes I read over the Internet how some people say that there isn’t really any use to praying or

going to the sacraments since you basically remain the same.”

“Remain the same?” The priest became more pensive.

“Yes. I mean that even after, for example, praying or confessing, one continues to  sin.”

“That sounds quite true, but there’s something tricky about the way it’s said,” Father Daniel answered.

“Huh?” Lawrence was confused.

“Praying and confessing aren’t spiritual means that we employ in order not to sin. It’s the same as taking medicine in order to get well, but it isn’t so that we may never ever get sick.”

“I see…,” Lawrence began to understand.

“Virtuous acts and vices are two different things but spring from the same source: man’s freedom. In choosing to do God’s will, that is, living according to what is good for man is virtue, and the opposite, that of choosing to seek one’s selfish end, is vice or sin. Imagine, therefore, how senseless it would be to pray that God remove our freedom so as not to sin…,” Father Daniel explained.

“But in so doing, then we can no longer love,” Lawrence immediately concluded.

“Correct!” Father Daniel said. “So the real problem is not understanding the true purpose of prayer or confession. Their purpose is to get into a relationship with Christ. They are not useless except when they are reduced to mere patches for the disordered tendencies sowed by original sin in us.”

“Now, things are lot clearer to me,” Lawrence said.

“I’m happy they are, but will you allow me to further develop on your question?”

“Sure, Father. I would be delighted,” Lawrence looked to his classmates who were also interested in what Father Daniel had to add.

“Maybe we could call it a spiritual combo mode or power up!”

“That’s coool,” Rory said. “Father, do you also play video games?”

The class roared out in laughter.

“Well, I have to confess I have,” Father Daniel grinned. “But maybe with games that will sound and look prehistoric to the ones you now play with on the Xbox or Playstation.”
“So what’s a spiritual combo mode, Father?” Simone asked.

“The spiritual combo mode is learning to add a richer perspective in one’s spiritual journey. We often limit ourselves only to seeing what does not go well in our lives. Thus, we easily point out mistakes, sins, attachments and insecurities. Sadly, these are the only triggers that lead us no other choice but to humbly go back to God.”

“Where’s the combo…?” A student impatiently asked.

“Let’s be patient. I’m getting there,” Father Daniel cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry, Father, I’m just excited,” the boy said.

“I understand. So as I was saying, it’s not sufficient to simply deal with our sins. We have to go beyond them and discover how they are positively conquered by supplying the relationship factor into the struggle.”

“I don’t get it, that’s the combo?” Alvin asked.

“Simply said, when one is not busy battling off vices, in what mode is his spiritual life in then?” Father Daniel asked.

“Wow! I never saw it that way before,” Alvin exclaimed.

“That’s what I’m trying to explain: we tend to reduce the spiritual life to simply driving away temptations, not falling, not hurting, not lying… and we forget that there is still a combo power mode that can upgrade us.”

“Like in games, the combo mode activated when the character’s power bar has reached a high level and…,” Lawrence butted in.

“Power bar…?” Father Daniel was a little lost.

“Father, I think Lawrence means that one is in the state of grace!” Philip explained.

“Oh, I see,” Father Daniel scratched his balding head. “But he has a good point. We can conclude that our grace-experience cannot be limited to our fallen moments. Rather, the constant combo mode is discovering that the many ordinary occasions during the day –studying, playing sports, getting sick, etc.– are really powerful converting moments when they are done with Christ, in Christ and through

Christ. The real combo mode of grace is living everything within a growing relationship with Jesus…!”

[BELL RINGS!!!]

“Bye, Father Daniel! See you in TimeZone later,” Lawrence winked at the priest.