Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

WORLD WORD-WAR

“As long as Moses kept his hands raised up,

Israel had the better of the fight.” —Exodus 17:11

We are in a war against demons (Eph 6:12). As the Church, we are attacking the gates of hell which cannot prevail against us (Mt 16:18). By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are claiming Jesus’ victory over Satan and applying it to our lives and our world.

Our sword is the Spirit using God’s Word (Eph 6:17) and helping us to pray in our weakness (Rm 8:26). Therefore, “preach the word, [staying] with this task whether convenient or inconvenient” (2 Tm 4:2). Also, accompany the proclamation of God’s Word by praying as Moses did (Ex 17:11-13). “At every opportunity pray in the Spirit, using prayers and petitions of every sort. Pray constantly and attentively for all in the holy company” (Eph 6:18). Pray with and for the ministry of God’s Word. “Pray for us that the word of the Lord may make progress and be hailed by many others, even as it has been by you” (2 Thes 3:1). Pray “that God may put His word” on our lips that we “may have courage to proclaim it as” we ought (Eph 6:19, 20).

On this World Mission Sunday, fight in the power of the Spirit the world war of words — words of witnessing, preaching, teaching, and praying.