27 October 2016 - not against flesh and blood

[ Today's Readings ]

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.

This armor is so important. Without it we find ourselves struggling against flesh and blood.

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,
“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”

But when we "put on the armor of God" we are "able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything" hold our ground. This is how Jesus holds his ground in the face of threats. The threats are to his flesh and blood. But he wears the full armor of the Spirit. He is focused on his mission.

Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,

He knows his purpose. He can't be deterred by flesh and blood, by fear or threats, or even by any power in this world.

and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.

So let us clothe ourselves in truth and righteousness. The Gospel of peace keeps our feet ready and moving in the direction we should good. Faith is a shield which is able to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. The salvation Jesus gives is the helmet that makes survival possible. Without his gift we are easy targets. The word of God is vital. It is our only explicitly offensive tool. What does this mean? It means that when the enemy presses in we need to strike back with the word. Otherwise, even with good armor, we get rattled and beaten down and may eventually lose heart.

Let us pray at every opportunity in the Spirit that we may always take advantage of the full armor that Jesus gives. Then we can stand fast in the war against the true enemy, undistracted by those in our lives who reprise the role of Herod and the Pharisees. No matter what flesh and blood throws at us we can be victorious through the mystery of Gospel.

for which I am an ambassador in chains,
so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.

Chains could stop flesh and blood. They could render earthly armor a moot point. But they can't stop those who wear the armor of light.

Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.