The victory that conquers the world is our faith

1 John 5:4

In the New Testament and in the prayers of the Church, the word “world” can mean different things.

In this verse of St. John’s first letter, the word “world” refers to the fallen state of humanity, to the web of sin, deception, corruption, and evil into which we are all born.

Christ was anointed by the Holy Spirit. He is the Messiah, the One who conquers evil and liberates mankind. He has come from outside of the world and entered the world—not to destroy it, but to heal it and make it into what it is meant to be.

By virtue of the sacraments of Christian initiation, we are united with Christ’s grace. By being baptized, confirmed, and nourished with the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, we become members of the Body of the Anointed One, and we share in His work.

The sacraments of faith change our relationship with the world. Christ has conquered sin, evil, the Devil. United with Him, we spend our lives on earth helping to make the world what it is meant to be.

The Lord gives us the grace to see the world in truth–to see it from the point-of-view of the Creator. God loves His world, and He works constantly for its fulfillment. Each of us has a small task to do every day, a small part to play in the work of the Savior. The job of every Christian is: To do my particular part to make the world good.

…And then: Maybe enjoy a cold one without having to get up.