We Never Fight Alone

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

Reading 1 Ephesians 2:19-22

Brothers and sisters:
You are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5

R. (5a) Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.

Alleluia See Te Deum

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 6:12-16

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

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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.

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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About Lani Bogart

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Lani Bogart began to love Jesus as a child and He eventually led her and her family into the Catholic Church. An Arizona transplant to Houston, she enjoys singing, writing, scripture study, and hosting family and friends with her deacon husband.For more of her story see Lanibogart.blog.

Lani Bogart nació en Hawaii y creció en Ohio y Michigan. Era una niña pequeña cuando empezó a amar a Jesús. Está en su casa en Texas con su esposo, un carpintero diácono, cerca de sus hijos y nietos. Lani también es una directora espiritual activa y voluntaria de curación de traumas. Puedes leer más en Lanibogart.blog