Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity, November 6th, 2022
This past week the weather has been beautiful here. The temperature has been around 75 degrees most of the week. But it is now November and even if we don't want to think about it, Winter will be here before we know it. And as the temps go down, we need to protect ourselves from the elements. We try to protect ourselves from head to foot when it gets so brutally cold in the winter, don't we? And rightfully so because it doesn't make any sense to go outside in 0 degree weather not protected from the elements. When the temperature is 10 below Zero, you want to protect yourself as much as possible from the elements so you don't get cold and you don't get frostbite. We protect ourselves.
In a spiritual sense, St. Paul gives the same exact advice when he writes: "Put on the whole armour of God!" (Ephesians 6:10) St. Paul gives sound advice for protecting ourselves from the devil. In this sixth chapter, St. Paul uses the analogy of a soldier dressed for war. He goes on to describe all the different items that a soldier either wears or uses to protect himself from the enemy. And then St. Paul makes the point that we should be fully protected as well in the spiritual sense so that we are protected from attacks from the devil. If we are going outside in the dead of winter and it is 10 below Zero, we wouldn't go outside just wearing a tee-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. It we are going into battle, it would not be wise to be dressed in simply a tee-shirt, shorts and flip-flops on our feet. If we are going to a job interview at a fancy corporation, again, would it really be wise to go there wearing a tee-shirt, shorts and flip-flops? We need to be dressed appropriately for whatever task faces us. Most of us know this. It is just common sense to dress appropriately for the elements or based on the situation. But that being said, in a spiritual sense, how many of us are caught severely lacking?
According to St. Paul we need the following items if we are going to be fully prepared: " . . . . your loins girt about with truth, . . . the breastplate of righteousness; . . . feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; . . . the shield of faith, . . . the helmet of salvation, . . . and the sword of the Spirit," (Ephesians 6:14-17) Are we fully prepared? I'm speaking about in a spiritual sense. Are we fully prepared to face the world and the traps we might find in our way? St. Peter tells us that the devil is like a lion seeking to devour us: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (I St. Peter 5:8) Surely, we wouldn't go on an African safari unprotected, would we? And yet we go about the world unprotected and unprepared for the attacks of the devil against us. Always have God close to you. Pray often. Read the Scriptures often. Go to church on Sundays if you are able. Do this for your own edification and in order to help edify your fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord. Always be aware of traps along the way . . . traps that will take us away from God, lure us away from being faithful to God.
St. Margaret Church worships every Sunday morning at 10:30 AM at the Chapel at Marquette Manor, which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.
NOTE: Keep in mind that we must enter in the main entrance of the lobby and sign in before we go to the chapel.
Please Join us as we gather together as God's family to: hear the Word of God; listen as God speaks to each one of us in our hearts; worship God in song and in word; listen to the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer; and, finally, receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion so that we can be nourished for the journey we call life. Take one hour out of your busy schedule to worship God, to honour God, to acknowledge the need for God in your life.
