“Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”

In one of the most memorable scenes from “The Princess Bride,” Inigo Montoya, Westley’s match with the sword turned ally against the evil Prince Humperdinck, finally gets his revenge against the six-fingered swordsman who killed his father. His whole life has been preparing for this moment, and he succeeds, even though he takes a sword to the chest. Staggering and holding back the blood with one hand he defends himself with the other. He does this by repeating what has become his mantra: “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Softly at first, then gaining strength from his resolve each time he says it, he suddenly turns the aggressor, all the while repeating, “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Until his opponent, master swordsman of the evil Humperdinck cries out, “Stop saying that!”

Finally unhanded by Inigo, the swordsman offers him anything he wants in exchange for his life and Inigo runs him through proclaiming the only thing he wants he can never receive… his father back.

It’s an unforgettable picture of courage and determination that could be brought to mind in our struggle against our greatest enemy… ourselves.

This recent Catch series began with Marti burying me next to my father. That was not a show of disrespect, but an acknowledgment that we all participate in some way in the sins of our fathers – particular weaknesses of the flesh against which we struggle. The only way out is to put the old self to death, as Paul says in Romans 6:11, “count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” And with even stronger language two chapters later he writes: “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13).

“You put to death…” that sounds an awful lot like running that guy through, and “that guy” is of course ourselves, i.e. our selfish selves, our lazy selves, or our disobedient selves, or for us husbands, it’s any part of ourselves that keeps us from loving the wife of our youth. Put it to death. Run it through. Don’t let anything stop you.

And if it helps, you might try something like: “Hello, my name is the born again John Fischer. You represent the sins of my father. Prepare to die!” or “Hello, my name is John Fischer. You are the little man keeping me from the big plans God has for me. Prepare to die!” or “Hello, my name is John Fischer. You are personal indulgence against the will of my Father in heaven. Prepare to die!” Put anything you need victory over in there, and run it through in the power of the Spirit.

Of course, in the story, Inigo secured only his revenge – a sort of hollow victory in that it can’t bring back what he really wants. Our stakes are much higher and long lasting – good for eternity, a life of purpose, the love of our families and the salvation of many.