Our Venerable Father Athanasius of Athos (c. 1003)
Galatians 5:22-6:2; Luke 6:17-23
Polyeleos Feast
Read Luke 6:17-23
The reward in heaven is great indeed, as St. Paul reminds us in his first letter to the Corinthians: “what eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love Him” (2:9).
As usually, a reward is granted at the end of a competition, and our competition is finishing this earthly life with faith (2 Tim 4:7). The reward for this, a reward like no other, the crown of glory, is not granted easily. On the contrary, the challenges in this competition are not ordinary either. “For our struggle is not with flesh and blood, but with principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens” (Eph6:12).
The persecutions against the faith never stop coming, as one priest used to tell us in the seminary, the devil never sleeps. Therefore, one of the main struggles is maintaining the hope in Jesus Christ, not allowing yourself to be overcome by hopelessness and despair.
The good thing is that we do not have to fight this spiritual warfare on our own, because God is with us – Emmanuel, and He will help us every step of the way. The Lord Jesus gives us the assurance to be with us: “and behold, I am with you always” (Mt 28:20).