71 years ago today the largest fleet ever assembled in world history landed on Normandy Beach, France to invade Hitler’s “Fortress Europe”. Many brave and frightened men died this day for our freedoms, especially freedom from political tyranny. A tyranny that essentially outlawed the Christian faith as graphically portrayed in this American poster of the real enemy. Fly your flag today but more 
pray and give thanks for our freedoms under assault in our day both at home and in the recent tyranny of the jihadists. The results back then were not a foregone conclusion.
C.S. Lewis, writing at the time, gave us a poignant lesson from D-Day for the Church. Before the quote below, Lewis is discussing the fact that Faith is not about God having one part of us but He claims the whole and then makes the comparison with D-Day:
In all of us God “still” holds only a part. D-Day is only a week ago. The bite so far taken out of Normandy shows small on the map of Europe. The resistance is strong, the casualties heavy, and the event uncertain. There is, we have to admit, a line of demarcation between God’s part in us and the enemy’s region. But it is, we hope, a fighting line; not a frontier fixed by agreement.
On Pentecost, 50 days after Easter, the Lord, Holy Spirit began assembling the invasion force, the militia Christi, the army of Christ to preach and teach His Word. The resistance, the flesh, the world and the devil is strong, the martyrs many, and the event uncertain. Yet, our hope we pray is fulfilled in the kingdom come. In The Large Catechism Luther taught that in this life we are only half-way pure. I think both Luther and Lewis are teaching that this is, “…a fighting line; not a frontier fixed by agreement.” C.S. Lewis uses this comparison as a man who fought in the front lines during the first World War. This is the strife of the Spirit in our lives, for us and for our salvation and the salvation of many in Christ Jesus. It is bloody, as in the blood of Jesus Christ shed for us all. It is bloody, as in the blood of the martyrs who witnessed to Jesus Christ in Fortress Adam in Operation Lord Over All. Luther sang, “…He fights by our side with the weapons of the Spirit”. (See Ephesians 6) The devil does not take his enemies alive. The Lord does take His enemies alive and frees them (see Romans 5:9-11!) From the Epistle 1 Peter:
“Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”
Let us pray…
Lord, keep us steadfast in Thy Word;
Curb those who fain by craft and sword
Would wrest the Kingdom from Thy Son
And set at naught all He hath done.
Lord Jesus Christ, Thy power make known,
For Thou art Lord of lords alone;
Defend Thy Christendom that we
May evermore sing praise to Thee.
O Comforter of priceless worth.
Send peace and unity on earth.
Support us in our final strife
And lead us out of death to life.
(Martin Luther)
Concordia and Koinonia 