Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity AD 2025

In one of his sermons, Saint John Chrysostom rebukes lukewarm Christians: “Thou, O Christian, art but a carpet-knight, if thou thinkest to conquer without a fight, to triumph without a struggle. Nerve thyself, strive manfully, hit hard in the press.” Being a Christian does not mean a comfortable life.

It is true that being a Christian brings peace of mind, but this is not because the path of Christians is straight and without any bumps, but because even in the greatest trials, a true Christian can know that he is not alone or abandoned. Saint Paul knew this perfectly well, which is why he could say: “I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

In today’s Epistle, Saint Paul also speaks about being strong: “MY brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood.”

We must be strong, but we can only be truly strong when we realize and acknowledge that it is not our strength, but God’s. Of ourselves we have nothing with which we can resist the devil – but if we have the armour of God, we have everything we need and more. We have the sure assurance of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that God Himself is the one who stands for us and gives us victory over sin, death, and the devil.