December 9

Twenty-first Monday after Trinity

We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12.

LIFE is a warfare, Holy Scripture is full of it. It tells us of foes, fighting, armour, rewards, life, death; of war within us and without us. Within us are "the lusts which war in our members," war "against the soul;" "the law in our members, warring against the law of our mind, and bringing us into captivity to the law of sin, which is in our members." Without us are foes, deadly, implacable, unsleeping, experienced in near six thousand years of human weakness, and passions, and unsteadfastness, and sin. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." There seems to be ranks and powers of evil angels as of good. One of these our Lord singles out, as chief enemy, who has an access to our souls; "takes the word out of men's hearts;" the father of lies, who entered into Judas, and put it into his heart to betray our Lord; and who desired to have Peter, to sift him through and through if so be he might fall.

Christian, dost thou see them On the holy ground, How the troops of Midian Prowl and prowl around?

Christian, up and smite them, Counting gain but loss, Smite them by the merit Of the holy Cross.