The Holy Martyrs Eustratios, Auxentius, Eugenius, Mardarius and Orestes (284-305); the Holy Martyr Lucia, the Virgin (284-305)
Polyeleos Feast. Nativity Fast.
Ephesians 6:10-17; Luke 21:12-19
Read Ephesians 6:10-17
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
St. Paul reminds us today that there is one enemy of our race who relentlessly pursues all of us. St. Peter adds that we should “be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8). Our contemporary tendency is to ignore the reality of the evil one and all the fallen angels who are his coworkers of iniquity; unfortunately, this only gives them more free rein in our lives and society. Before the coming of the Christ humanity was powerless against these dark forces and were their playthings. Imagine having no recourse or protection and constantly living in fear and anxiety—it is mournful that even today some people live in this state of oppression of evil. This is why the victory of Christ over death, the devil and sin were experienced so powerfully when the Gospel began to spread out of Judea. For the first time in history people were freed from the clutches of evil. St. Paul continues, we are not only freed through Christ, but we actually have a defence and armour which the evil one is not able to fight against or penetrate: Truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith in Christ, salvation, the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Through the cultivation—ie putting on— of this defence arsenal we stand with Christ as soldiers of the Kingdom and expand the reign of the King in our hearts and the world.