TwentySeventh Sunday after Pentecost 2023

Title

The Wiles of the Devil

Outline

We tend to think in material terms, which is dangerous

That is, we see dangers or opportunities in material terms, i.e. due to concrete persons, events, organizations, and the like.

We do not realize what the Fathers often talked about, which is the wiles of the devil (and his supporting cast).

Paul lays it out for us

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

The Lord has given us strength and armor to combat a whole hierarchy of spiritual powers (the infernal hierarchy mimicking the heavenly hierarchy). What does it take to defeat them?

First, truth, given by the Lord, for the devil is the father of lies

Second, righteousness, or we might say virtue, strengthened by the gifts of the Spirit in Isaiah ch 11.

Third, the good news of peace, peace with God and peace with others - we are peaceful even if they are not

Fourth, trust in God (usually translated faith), no matter what happens

Fifth, God’s salvation, his deliverance, and knowledge of it protecting our thoughts

Sixth, know what God has spoken and speak it to yourself as well as to others.

Jesus shows us how this works

A ruler, who turns out to be wealthy, addresses Jesus as “Good Teacher” and asks about inheriting eternal life. Jesus first implicitly asks him about the truth: is Jesus really Good Teacher, if no one is good but God? Then he checks on his level of righteousness, going through the commandments, the negative side of the virtues. He seemed to be fine, at least up to the pre-Jesus level, and he accepts Jesus as at least teaching for God.

Then Jesus gives the command that unveils reality: “Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” The gospel call is to follow Jesus, and the OT truth is that one should love God with all one’s heart, soul, and strength, i.e. total loyalty. But the devil sets up mammon as an idol in our hearts whispering that it is the source of security, status, and the like, that we would be lost without it. The idol is revealed and he cannot give it up. He is sad, but he cannot respond to the call of the Gospel to follow Jesus.

The Desert Fathers and the Eastern tradition in general would not be surprised at this nor think that this was a special call, for it is the nature of mammon: “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” Jesus goes on to say that it is impossible. The poor find entering easy for they do not have and so mammon has no grip and the rich find it impossible - it takes a miracle of God for them to reject the idol for the true God (a miracle we have already seen in Zacchaeus). “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

So take the armor God gives you and put it on

Ask God to reveal what is true and what is right and virtuous and so forth and to help you to do it. Read and follow the example of the many saints.

And God will answer and will make the impossible possible. God has challenged me to give up putting my security in certain funds I was reserving for my retirement: do you trust them or do you trust me? God has pointed out the idolatry I had as a biblical scholar in my library and electronics: first, it took money (and time) away from my family and second, I gathered because it made me feel secure. And that was all a lie. Those are just two examples. (Now I struggle with getting rid of the stuff.)

I am freer, the devil’s lies are shattered, he cannot attack me that way. But like an alcoholic, I will always need to beware of gathering in those areas.

The happiest people are those to whom God has revealed the wiles of the devil, who have given their full trust to God, and who follow through on their commitments. Your areas of vulnerability will be different than mine, but I hope that you, like me, will be asking God to reveal to you the areas of battle and that year by year you will be overcoming the activities of the dark side in your lives too.

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 12-10-2023: Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

EPISTLE

Ephesians 6:10–17

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; 16 besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 12-3-2023: Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

(30th Sunday, Slavic)

Luke 18:18–27

18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 21 And he said, “All these I have observed from my youth.” 22 And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. 24 Jesus looking at him said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) (12-3-2023: Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2023 | OCTOECHOS

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 12-10-2023: Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Dark Vestments

Matins Gospel Luke 24:12–35

Epistle Ephesians 6:10–17

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 12-3-2023: Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Gospel Luke 18:35–43 (31st Sunday, Greek) or Luke 18:18–27 (30th Sunday, Slavic)