The Sun of righteousness will never stop walking with us.
For He will never forsake us. He is not only with us in the
difficult days but in all days till the end of ages, till in
Him we conquer our enemies.
(Aurigionos)

First keep peace with yourself: then you will be able
to bring peace to others.
(Imitation of Christ)

Repentance is the door of mercy, openened to those who
seek it. By way of this door we enter into the mercy of God,
and apart from this entrance, we shall not find mercy.
(Isaac the Syrian)

God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cuse His face
to shine upon us.
(Psa. 67:1)

There is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
(Psa. 73:25)

Bring every thought in captivity, to the obedience of Christ.
(2 Cor. 10:5b)

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
(Matt. 13:9)

He is aware of everything a person does, and he takes care
of those who fear Him.
(Sirach 15:19)

REFLECTION:

Let us then serve in Christ's army, following His blameless
commands with all our might. The great cannot exist without
the small, nor the small without the great. They blend together
to their mutual advantage.

Lord Jesus, help us to be true members of Your spiritual army,
which is Your Mystical Body. Let us entreat everyone we meet
as our associates in Christ and work for our mutual benefit.
(St. Clement)

HOMILY:

The Armor of God

Put on the whole Armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Eph. 6:11)

Paul has been thinking of the Church as it is, or is to be, now reminds his readers of the warfare which it has to wage against spiritual foes without and within the Church. Each member of the Church is to be a spiritual warrior fully equipped with the weapons of the Divine Warrior Himself. The wiles of the devil have to be met by the Armor of God.

The main features of Paul's picture are taken from two passages in Isaiah 59:17 & 11:4f., where God Himself does battle and the warrior is the Messianic King.

We are equipped with the Breastplate of Righteousness, Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel, the Shield of Faith to ward off the fiery darts of the devil. Two further items are mentioned. The Helmet of Salvation is drawn from Isaiah where Yahweh wears this on His Head as He goes forth to vindicate His oppressed people.

Then we have the Sword of the Spirit. This is wielded with cutting power when the Word of God is preached. Here Isa.11:4 seems in view; it describes Messiah's conquest as shown in Rev.19:15. In His temptation in the wilderness Our Lord used the Sword of the Spirit against Satan. (see Luke 4:1-13).

Although having no counterpart in a Soldier's equipment, prayer and supplication are evidently to be included in Paul's list. The link-thought is the Spirit who inspires Christian Prayer. Paul spells out one object of Christian Supplication, that is for all the saints who form God's people of the New Covenant.

The call to intercession for fellow-Christians requires both a watchfulness and a resolution. Remember "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." If we are girded with the Whole Armor of God, we will be well prepared for Satan's attacks. He cannot bear seeing a Cross. To Thee be glory and praise, now and ever, unto Ages of Ages.

AMEN!

Today's Readings:

Evening: Psalm 4:3,6-7; Matt.10:24-33.
Morning: Psalm 113:1-2; Mark 8:34-9:1.
Liturgy: Rom.8:14-27; 1 Peter 2:11-17; Acts 19:11-20;
Psalm 66: 12-14; Gospel Luke 12:12-19.

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