We Never Fight Alone

Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Ephesians 6:10-20

Brothers and sisters:
Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm
against the tactics of the Devil.
For our struggle is not with flesh and blood
but with the principalities, with the powers,
with the world rulers of this present darkness,
with the evil spirits in the heavens.
Therefore, put on the armor of God,
that you may be able to resist on the evil day
and, having done everything, to hold your ground.
So stand fast with your loins girded in truth,
clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,
and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace.
In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield,
to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One.
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.

With all prayer and supplication,
pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.
To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication
for all the holy ones and also for me,
that speech may be given me to open my mouth,
to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel
for which I am an ambassador in chains,
so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 144:1b, 2, 9-10

R. (1b) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
My mercy and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust,
who subdues my people under me.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
O God, I will sing a new song to you;
with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise,
You who give victory to kings,
and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

 

 

Alleluia See Luke 19:38; 2:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 13:31-35

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,
“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”
He replied, “Go and tell that fox,
‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.
Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day,
for it is impossible that a prophet should die
outside of Jerusalem.’

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,
how many times I yearned to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,
but you were unwilling!
Behold, your house will be abandoned.
But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
 

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Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

We Never Fight Alone

October 29, 2026 // Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20

Reflect on the Word // 

How could he say that about me? When I heard the false accusation a relative had made, everything in me wanted to fight back. But I knew that would only make things worse. It took some time, a conversation with my husband, and a good Confession before I could once more view my loved one as being for me instead of against me.

As I pondered today’s First Reading, the Lord made it clear that I sometimes think it’s me and my prayers against the devil. Although I know that life is full of spiritual battles and no person is my enemy, I am quick to forget what is true. Paul addresses the Ephesians in the plural: “Brothers and sisters: draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10).  It would be a fatal mistake to think I could interpret Scripture or profess my faith or even pray all by myself. I’ve tried on my own to use the armor God provides—faith, justice, the Word of God, the good news of peace, prayer, salvation, an awareness of the Saints—to fight against evil. I have learned that I need the wisdom and encouragement of others to stand with me.

Sister, together we are strengthened to shift our perspective from lies to truth and learn what the Word of God has to say to us. I need my husband’s admonition and a priest to hear my Confession and offer absolution. I need brothers and sisters to study God’s Word with me and encourage me in the faith because we never fight alone. 

Only rarely does spiritual battle involve exorcisms or dramatic encounters with demons. More often the battle requires us to speak truth. It might mean staying up late to have a face-to-face conversation with someone who needs a listening ear. It could be identifying and renouncing a lie we have believed and replacing it with truth from God’s Word. All the tools Saint Paul gives us make a difference in our ability to stand together in the midst of whatever the enemy of our souls throws our way. 

Relate to the Lord // Is there a lie you have been believing in this season? Share it with a friend you trust and pray together about it. 

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