“A man who masters his passions is master of the world. We must either master them or be mastered by them. It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.” (St. Dominic).
St. Dominic’s words are a great challenge on the path of following Christ. They remind us that we are all called to a struggle that no one can avoid. God allows it on various levels to strengthen us, and the battle against the passions may be the one that lasts the longest and must be fought most tenaciously.
It requires great attention, because as soon as one yields to a negative desire, one loses control over that particular terrain, so to speak. However, this can easily lead to a weakening of one’s inner resilience, leaving one vulnerable to further attacks. This is why, after a defeat, one must immediately turn to the Lord, seek forgiveness, and determine where the breaches occurred and how they could have been prevented. One must focus one’s efforts here, pray earnestly for God’s help, and prepare to defend against the next attack. In this way, the situation can change over time, and I am not simply at the mercy of circumstances. I become the hammer capable of fending off attacks and the master of my own house!
Allow me a brief digression to the recent World Cup. Spain, the deserving champion, had a clear game plan and great discipline. Even their unfortunate start didn’t rattle them. Instead, they played with great composure. As a result, they dominated every match. They were the hammer—consistent but not unrestrained—and thus became soccer masters!