As Catholics, we believe in a battle between good and evil—between light and darkness. The body has always been at the center of that battle. The battle began with the body when we ate the fruit. And we are reminded of the battle every day (particularly in Lent) when we can’t say no to something that we really don’t want to do. Our body can often rebel against us, but the body is still good. The body is at the center of Jesus’ victory over sin and death. It is through submitting our will to Jesus—to His sovereign authority—that Christ is able to free us bit by bit from our slavery to sin.
The first step to being free from the tendency to sin is by doing as Saint Paul did. He said “For, although we are in the flesh, we do not battle according to the flesh, for the weapons of our battle are not of flesh but are enormously powerful, capable of destroying fortresses.… [We] take every thought captive in obedience to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:3-5). Saint Paul is saying that in the spiritual battle between good and evil, the weapons being used are those of the mind: thoughts and ideas. And there is need for us to guard the mind.
This idea of guarding our thoughts also tracks with Christian psychology. Today therapists recognize a need for greater psychological freedom through guarding our thoughts. If our thoughts are filled with resentment, worry, and ingratitude, we will become resentful, anxious and ungrateful. If our thoughts are filled with worship, trust, and gratitude, we will be filled with love, peace, and joy.
These thoughts also affect our bodies. For instance, if you start your day with resentment, worry, and ingratitude, your body will be filled with tension in your chest, throat, and stomach. You will physically experience what your mind is thinking. But if you start your day with worship, trust, and gratitude, your body will be relaxed and at peace. Our thoughts are expressed through the body.
Put on the whole armor of God
There is a spiritual battle over our thoughts which directly affects our bodies. That’s why Paul tells us to equip ourselves in spiritual armor and “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:10-17). We must allow God’s sacred word to form our minds and equip us against the attacks of the enemy, which will in turn protect our bodies from bodily anxiety.
In short, our thoughts affect our bodies and we must guard against the attacks from the enemy in the form of thoughts. A scripture verse that always inspires me to live in the peace of Christ is Philippians 4:4-8. I invite you to reflect on this as a prayer for greater peace in Christ.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Gabriel Milano has his Master’s degree in Theology in Marriage and Family at the John Paul II Institute and is a content creator and speaker for TOBET. He also writes fantasy novels for children and young adults, under the pen name G. M. Dantes.
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