“Where do they find the strength?” That’s a question that most of us find ourselves asking about a family member, friend, or co-worker who is somehow persevering through an extraordinary challenge or challenges.
It could be an illness, death of a loved one, troubled marriage, loss of a job or financial concerns, or perhaps a crisis of faith. Well, in the Letter to the Ephesians, Saint Paul instructs the Ephesians, and all of us, through his opening sentence: “Brothers and sisters: Draw your strength from the Lord and from His mighty power.”
In quintessential Paul style, he uses the imagery of putting on the armor of God for protection. Saint Paul also reminds us of why we need God: to be able to stand firm against the devil.
This leads to Paul’s refocusing our attention on the dangers of this earthly life. In the classic passage, Saint Paul says, “For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with world rulers of this darkness, with the evil spirits of the heavens.”
On this Halloween day and evening, there is the innocent childhood experience of dressing up in a costume and going from home to home to collect candy from our neighbors. But, at the same time, there is the adult participation, many times unwittingly and sometimes accompanied by children, of crossing the line into engaging with evil spirits. For example, taking part in rituals with witches, tarot card reading, or the use of mediums, to name a few. Whether through ignorance or unfounded confidence, these interactions with evil spirits should be avoided no matter the popular opinion of our time.
Saint Paul also brings to light that we can be tempted by the devil without seeking him. To protect ourselves, Saint Paul directs us to read and reflect on the Word of God each day, the Word of God that he calls “the sword of the Spirit,” bringing to mind how it can cut through any ambiguity or confusion about right and wrong, good and evil.
A second protection and strength is found in daily prayer and supplication. Saint Paul exhorts us to pray at every opportunity and to be watchful and persevering for all the holy ones and for him as well. As I read those words, I was drawn to the word “supplication.” Whenever we pray to God for a particular need, earnestly and humbly seeking God’s assistance, that is when we make a supplication.
On this Halloween day and evening, no matter what our family members, friends, or we are facing, the good news is that we have a source of strength in God, greater than any other. And, by uniting your prayers with the prayers at this Mass, you have put on the armor of God for protection and have the sword of the Spirit to cut through any confusion of our time. This is why we always leave Mass stronger than when we arrive.
May God bless and protect you and your families this holy day!
Reverend David S. Marcham is the Vice Postulator for the Cause of Venerable Patrick Peyton, and Director of the Father Peyton Guild, whose members pray for Father Peyton’s beatification and spread his message of the importance of Family Prayer. Prior to becoming a seminarian, Father David was a physical therapist and clinical instructor, serving hospital inpatients and outpatients throughout the greater Boston area for eleven years. In 1998 he heard the call to priesthood and was ordained in the Archdiocese of Boston in 2005. Father David grew up in Quincy, MA, and has fond memories of playing soccer, tennis and running track. You’re never without a friend when Father David is around, as he welcomes everyone into his circle with a smile on his face!
