“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm” (Eph 6:13).
Last week, we looked at St. Paul’s example as a witness, examining his transformation and zeal for the Gospel. This issue will reflect more deeply on evangelical zeal as described by St. Paul himself.
In Pope Francis’ April 12, 2023 audience, he teaches on the difference between misguided and authentic zeal, the “armor of God,” and how the implications of this relate to movement, proclamation, and zeal for the Gospel.
Misguided vs. authentic zeal
To start, we are reminded that Paul himself is aware of misguided zeal and its negative effects.
Prior to his encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus and subsequent conversion, he was zealous for the law and used this to justify the persecution of Christians. This zeal was outside of and directed against Christianity, but it is also possible for zeal within Christianity to become misguided.
In our own lives, the pope says we sometimes have to deal with misdirected zeal, whether it is coming from ourselves or others. “We cannot ignore the solicitude with which some devote themselves to the wrong pursuits even within the Christian community itself; one can boast of a false evangelical zeal while actually pursuing vainglory or one’s own convictions or a little bit of love of self”, said Pope Francis. In contrast to this, authentic zeal is wholly centered on Christ and the power of His Resurrection.
The armor of God
So what are the characteristics of true, authentic evangelical zeal, as described by St. Paul?
In Ephesians Chapter 6, Paul discusses the “weapons” needed for spiritual battle, urging us to take up the “armor of God”. Among these is readingness to spread the Gospel, which is translated by some as “zeal”. To elaborate on this concept, he describes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. Each of these could be explored in depth.
However, Pope Francis asks the audience to pay particular attention to one: The shoe.
While it may seem of minor significance, it is deeply tied to zeal for the Gospel. Verse 15 says, “As shoes for your feet, put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the Gospel of peace.” The metaphor of the shoes and feet presented by St. Paul ties to text from the prophet Isaiah, who said, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns” (Isaiah 52:7). One must have readiness to spread the Gospel.
Readiness to spread the Gospel
Within the context of the analogy of armor, proper footwear is essential to having stability of footing during combat. Adequate footwear is necessary for a soldier to be able to avoid the pitfalls of the terrain, and it provides strength and the capacity to run and move in the right direction.
There are three critical implications of shoes as part of the armor of God. First, it means the ability to avoid things of the adversary. The “shoes” equip us for our journey and help us face the world. Second, it necessitates the carrying forward of ideas, and this is especially where the concept ties to evangelical zeal. “One does not proclaim the Gospel by standing still, locked in an office, at one’s desk or at one’s computer, arguing like ‘keyboard warrior’ and replacing the creativity of proclamation with copy-and-paste ideas taken from here and there,” said Pope Francis. Rather, the Gospel is proclaimed by moving, by going. He goes on to say, “One who proclaims the Gospel cannot be fossilized in cages of plausibility or the idea that ‘it has always been done this way,’ but is ready to follow a wisdom that is not of this world”. Notably, Paul uses a term denoting the footwear of those bearing the Gospel that implies readiness and preparation. Furthermore, it is the opposite of being “slovenly,” which the Holy Father describes as being incompatible with love. Pope Francis sums up this point by repeating that, “There is no proclamation without movement”. Finally, the shoes imply readiness for newness and unexpected circumstances. So, while the feet of the evangelist must be solidly planted and provide stability, they must simultaneously be in movement, proclaiming the Good News.
The pope concludes his audience by exhorting us to go forward and move without fear. He challenges us to bring the beauty of Jesus.
As we approach Easter, let us continue to pray that Jesus would enter our hearts, transform our lives, and direct our paths to go make disciples.