O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you slay the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I tried to bring together your children,
as a bird gathers her young under her wings. But you refused! From now on, you will be left, with your temple.
And you will no longer see me until the time when you will say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

REFLECTION:
There is only one plot in the story of man, namely, the ­battle between good and evil. The protagonists are God and the de­vil.
The final outcome is also clear – the victory of God! In this epic story a long drawn battle is being waged between
the forces of good and the forces of evil. Thus, St. Paul explains to the Ephesians that they were at war with supernatural forces,
the devils who influence men to do evil. In the Gospel, Jesus himself recognized that Herod who wanted to kill him,
was under the influence of the devil. So also were all those who persecuted the prophets.
St. Paul advices the Ephesians and us today to fight against the evil forces with the “whole armor of God,” namely,
with “truth as our belt, justice as our breastplate, and zeal as our shoes, to propagate peace.”
Moreover, with “faith as our shield” we are able to resist the temptations of the devil who wants us to give up when
it seems that our cause is unpopular. We counter evil with the Word of God, that is, with Gospel values.
We draw strength by sustained prayers and we are not intimated by persecution. Such was the example of the Apostles and Martyrs.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020