We’re reminded in one of today’s Gospels of the reality of spiritual warfare and the devastating effects of a soul given over to the evil one and his demons. St. Paul relays this truth to us, saying, “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). Because the spiritual realm is unseen, it often escapes our attention, but the inputs we take into ourselves does affect our souls. Feuerbach has said, “We are what we eat.” As Christians, we can certainly see the truth in this. As such, we’re admonished to “guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus,” to be careful about giving the devil a foothold through sinful habits and addictions, through “what we eat” (take in), which, if unchecked, can lead to devastating effects on our bodies and our souls. Thank God, with Christ there’s power to heal and cast out the demons and their influence on our lives, as we evidence in today’s Gospel. We exercise great discipline and vigilance to fight against demonic influence through our “No!” to sin and our “Yes!” to God, which is manifested in our daily prayers and repentance and our sacramental confession and all our efforts to worship God. In all these ways, we allow Christ God to step in to heal those places most susceptible to the influence of the prince of this world. Our Orthodox Faith assures us, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (I Jn. 4:4). Christ has overcome the world; let us be diligent in availing ourselves of His power and help in time of need and carefully guard our souls, filling them with His divine light and truth, that we may grow in holiness and overcome the devil’s influence in our own lives.
In Christ’s love, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- Sunday, July 13, 9 a.m., Visiting Archpriest, Fr. Mark Koczak, will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at Holy Archangels. Fr. Robert is serving the Divine Liturgy at the USNA for our Orthodox plebes. He and his family will be at Holy Archangels for trapeza and Sunday School.
- Wed., July 16, 7 p.m., Fr. Robert leads Little Compline and teaching for the Plebes at USNA
- Saturday, July 19, 6 p.m., Great Vespers with Confession following
- Sunday, July 20, 9:30 a.m., Hours, 10 am Divine Liturgy Trapeza following Liturgy
- Sunday, July 27, 9 a.m., Fr. Mark serving Divine Liturgy at the USNA.
Save the Date!
- Friday, Aug. 1 Begin DORMITION FAST
- Wed., Aug. 6, 12 Noon, Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Transfiguration, USNA. You must RSVP for this Feast at the USNA. Email Fr. Robert with RSVP (Fr.RobertMiclean@gmail.com) no later than Monday, Aug. 4, if you can join us! Transportation to the Academy Chapel will be provided as there is no public access by car.
- Friday, Aug. 15, 12 Noon, Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Holy Dormition, USNA. Email Fr. Robert by Wed., Aug. 13 if you can join us for this Great Feast of our Lady!
- All are strongly encouraged to take time off work/school to participate in these Great Feasts of the Church!
- Sunday, Aug. 17, some Orthodox Plebes will join us at Holy Archangels for Divine Liturgy.
Prayer Requests:
• That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
• For God’s financial provision for our Mission and ACM (Annapolis College Ministry);
• For our Mission that we may find a Choir Director;
• Archpriest George, Archpriest Michael, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Benedict, Colette, Mary, Carol, Katherine, James, Daniel, Sarah, Seraphim, Patricia, George, Anne, Ed, Johnson, Jeanette, and Family, Bede, Willy, Rachael, Meriam and family in the Sudan, the incoming class of Orthodox plebes at the USNA and for their salvation, the Church in Georgia and Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our suffering Orthodox brethren in Syria and Iraq, a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
