Some are prone to divide people into two categories: the good and the evil ones, the kind and the unkind, the just and the unjust and, yes, those who are our friends and those we label as ‘enemies’.
People who give in to such labelling can think it is wise to protect oneself from the hurt that those who are unfriendly could cause them…

Amazingly, they often forget one type of enemies… the inner ones! Yes, those we give a residence to within ourselves! Often, they lie there, well hidden from our consciousness, unrecognised. Their presence is not acknowledged and can be all the more negative.

Today, I am thinking of one such enemy which is referred to in the letter to the Hebrews (12:1-4), this Sunday’s second reading (20th Sunday of the Year, C).
It is called: discouragement, or a lack of courage.
The author of this epistle warns us precisely against this.
It tells us “not (to) give up for want of courage.”

Discouragement deprives us of our inner resources.
We see situations and events in a defeatist way.
Our attitude to life and people is negative.
We give up the struggle to overcome the obstacles on our way.
We recall the failures of the past pretending they justify our refusal to make new efforts.
Nothing seems to have meaning any more.
We do not dare to move into unchartered territory in life.
We do not attempt to explore new possibilities.
Pushed to the extreme, this can lead to deep depression…

The Scripture text tells us: “We should throw off everything that hinders us…” Discouragement is definitely such a hindrance! The unrecognised specialist of… sabotage – obvious work of an ‘enemy’.

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