In the first reading today from Jeremiah 7, we read the story of a nation that has abandoned God. God says, “Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper. But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed. They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts and turned their backs, not their faces, to me….Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech.” Each time I read this I see eerie similarities with where we are today. Lord, have mercy.
In the Gospel reading from Luke 11, Jesus is driving out demons. Some of the people in the crowd say, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Jesus responds by saying, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.” He adds, “When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils.”
Tell me…how strong are you? And how well armed are you for the spiritual battles you will undergo today? The only way a person gets stronger, physically or mentally, is by working out. The same is true in the spiritual world. When we become lazy, we become soft. And when we become soft, one stronger than us will come and take away all that we have. Are you willing to allow that to happen to you? To your family? Or are you ready to fight Satan and all the evil spirits waiting to take you and your family out? I hope so! Then get off your behind! Put on the armor of God! Work out! Grab your Bible! Grab a Rosary! Get yourself fully armed! And man your battle station!
Father, forgive us for the times when we get lazy, when we’re willing to relinquish to Satan that which you have given us. Help us today to be fully armed and ready to go to battle! Amen.
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