What are my possessions? Are they Safe?

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : 27th Week - Friday*

*GOSPEL - Lk 11:15-26*

*First Reading - Jl 1:13-15; 2:1-2*

*What are my possessions? Are they Safe?*

Jesus says *When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe*

*1) Christian Life is like a Soldier*

A soldier is a person, who is ready for battle. A soldier can not remain unprepared for the battle

Usually a soldier has some necessary arms to protect himself from the attack and also to safeguard the people around him 

When soldier is in the duty He can't think of taking rest or taking things lightly. If he does such things there will be a greater danger for his life 

Christian life is like a soldier, who has to be ready equipped with all latest arms, to fight against the again 

In living Christian life one can't remain unprepared or without any armns to  fight the battle 

*2) What are my possessions?*

Here we are not taking about the earthly possessions. Here the possessions belong to the spiritual level. As such we can consider the following things are great treasures in our Christian life. 

Soul, Faith in God, Human qualities like compassion, humility, simplicity, forgiveness, faithfulness, truthfulness, sacrifice, service, generosity, and concern for one another 

*3)  Various arms to protect my spiritual possessions*

God has given us many arms, to protect our spiritual possessions. Some of them could be the following 

The powerful weapon of the Sacred Scripture

The weapon of Rosary and devotion of Rosary which put the demons to flight 

Community and personal prayer - to guard all my possessions

Celebration of the sacraments and participation in it 

All the Kingdom values are the powerful weapons to guard our possessions

*4) Am I a fully armed man, to guard the palace of my Life?*

Our life on this earth is like a palace, which has best of the facilities given by God, to live a life in a most fruitful way 

The responsibility of guarding this Palace of my life is given to myself 

Unless I have some arms and I prepare myself as a fully armed soldier, who is ready for battle, I can't guard my life. The devil will entre and destroy my life 

So the question remains - am I fully armed man/woman to safeguard my own life?

*5) We have been called to remain as fully armed soldiers ready to Fight*

This readiness is not only on certain occasions

This readiness involves all the situations, at any moment of my life, an in any crisis moments in life

Am I confident to day that I am a fully armed soldier of Christ to safeguard my life and the followers of Jesus???

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*