Third Sunday in Lent – 19 March 2017

A local pastor recently reminded me of a much-used Celtic spiritual discipline of daily putting on St Patrick’s Breastplate, calling on God to protect His servants: I bind unto myself today the strong name of the Trinity by invocation of the same, the Three in One and One in Three…

As I pondered the whole of this old prayer I remembered the practice of another friend who began each day by putting on the “Whole Armour of God” as Paul exhorts the early Christians to do in his letter to the Ephesians. Each morning we decide what to wear, we put on body lotion and sun screen, deodorant and the rest, we pack rain coat or jacket to prepare for whatever the day might bring, but how well are we prepared, spiritually.

I think there is wisdom in Paul when he says – “Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 8:11-17)

Perhaps we should not be worrying so much about what we might give up for Lent but how we could better clothe ourselves for our life in the world.