Thursday 30^th October – Thursday of week 30 of the year

Reflection: Ephesians 6: 10-20

BE COMBAT FIT

Blessed day to you, beloved in Christ. Can you imagine what becomes the fate of a soldier in a war front who is neither armed, nor aware of the battle raging around him? He will most likely die a casualty! The motto of the scout movement remains germane to all military personnel globally – “Be Prepared”. The sophistication of modern warfare demands that a soldier be physically and psychologically prepared to defend the interest of his country and stay alive. He must always be combat fit and combat ready.

The same goes for you and me, followers of Christ. By our Christian call, we are soldiers, soldiers of Christ and fierce is the battle that rages in and around us (2 Timothy 2: 3-4; Ephesians 6:12). Ours is not a physical confrontation, fought with guns, explosives and all sorts; for we are children of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Today’s first reading clearly captures the dimension of our warfare. It is a battle against evil and all appearances of such; a battle against Satan and demons; a battle against the flesh and all forms of inordinate affection; a battle against hatred, immorality and injustice. In short, we are in constant battle against all forms of ungodliness.

How then do we safely navigate through all these? We must not be spiritually naïve! A clear awareness and constant preparedness for this peculiar warfare is necessary for the survival of our faith and our safe arrival at our heavenly homeland. Human strength and ingenuity are grossly inadequate for our spiritual warfare (1 Samuel 2:9b). We need to be clad in God’s armour to emerge victorious.  These, St Paul clearly highlighted in today’s First reading. Let us be vigilant (1Peter 5: 8-9), let us steer clear of anything that could make us vulnerable to the antics of the evil one (Ecclesiastes 10:8). The grace of God is surely sufficient to safely lead us home (Isaiah 40: 30-31)

PRAYER: Oh Lord, grant me victory over life’s battles, that I may thereafter enter the joy of heaven. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 409- This dramatic situation of “the whole world is in the power of the evil one” makes man’s life a battle:

The whole of man’s history has been the story of dour combat with the powers of evil, stretching, sour Lord tells us, from the very dawn of history until the last day. Finding himself in the midst of the battlefield man has to struggle to do what is right, and it is at great cost to himself, and aided by god’s grace, that he succeeds in achieving integrity.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”1 Peter 5:8 RSV-CE

Readings for Today: Ephesians 6: 10-20; Psalms 144:1-2, 9-10; Luke 13: 31-35