Spiritual Armor

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/102716.cfm) reminds me that even though we are busy with things in this world, we should also work on building and strengthening our Spiritual Armor. 

They say that if you believe in the gospel, then you should also believe in evil. God is good, but not all people want Him. Not all people follow him. God gave us free will, and because of that, evil is present because there are people who do not accept God.  If you do not believe in evil, then maybe you do not really believe in the gospel. 

Evil is real. It is strong, even if we do not see it physically. However, God is stronger. And as followers of God, we are told how to fight evil. How to fight spiritual warfare - by using our spiritual armor. The first reading tells us how to fight it with God. The Spiritual Armor, more than anything, is a lifestyle. This is not an actual battle where we fight on God's side against the enemy. This is a battle we fight (and win) everyday with our lives. 

The spiritual armor as described in the first reading, is not a gift given to us when we follow Christ. We have to work on it. We have to do our part. We need to live in righteousness and truth. We need to live the gospel of Christ's peace. We need to attend mass, read the bible, and pray to remember that we are saved, to have a stronger faith and to know God's Word. 

Evil is around us and always attacking us. That is probably why most of the parts of the armor are for defense. Defending ourselves against the attacks of the enemy - belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, gospel of peace, shield of faith, and helmet of salvation. Knowing these things and having these things will protect us from all attacks of the evil one. However, there is one offensive weapon. The sword of the Spirit, the WORD of God. That is how powerful his word is! It is sufficient not just to defend ourselves, but attack the evil one. 

May we be willing to fight the enemy and do our part to build and strengthen our spiritual armor. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to grow in faith. Thank you for the reminder and inspiration. Lord, sorry for the times I do not exert effort to build and strengthen my spiritual armor. Sorry for being lazy to act. Help me do my part. Lord, I pray that you help me live for you. Help me do my part and live in a way pleasing to you. May my lifestyle be consistent with how you want me to live, and may it help me grow and strengthen my spiritual armor so I can fight the evil in this world. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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October 27, 2016
Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 482

Reading 1 Eph 6:10-20

Brothers and sisters:
Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm
against the tactics of the Devil.
For our struggle is not with flesh and blood
but with the principalities, with the powers,
with the world rulers of this present darkness,
with the evil spirits in the heavens.
Therefore, put on the armor of God,
that you may be able to resist on the evil day
and, having done everything, to hold your ground.
So stand fast with your loins girded in truth,
clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,
and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace.
In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield,
to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One.
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.

With all prayer and supplication,
pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.
To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication
for all the holy ones and also for me,
that speech may be given me to open my mouth,
to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel
for which I am an ambassador in chains,
so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 144:1b, 2, 9-10

R. (1b) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
My mercy and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust,
who subdues my people under me.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
O God, I will sing a new song to you;
with a ten stringed lyre I will chant your praise,
You who give victory to kings,
and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Alleluia See Lk 19:38; 2:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 13:31-35

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,
“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”
He replied, “Go and tell that fox,
‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.
Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day,
for it is impossible that a prophet should die
outside of Jerusalem.’

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,
how many times I yearned to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,
but you were unwilling!
Behold, your house will be abandoned.
But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”