Rebuking the Devil
I'm sitting in my Lazy Boy recliner in the living room right now. It is a dark and rainy morning here in Dublin. I have JS Bach playing on the the stereo and a fire in the fire place. I'm sipping a cup of Earl Grey tea with honey and soy milk, yum.
I'm still a bit under the weather, the cold lingers, refusing to depart from me. As my late ex-wife Jan used to tell me, "The only sure cure for a cold is ten days." That was one of the many things she was right about. :-)
This morning I read this in the book "The Lord Will Answer" that I use for the catechism reading in
morning prayers:
Rebuking the DevilThe Lord forbids you, O devil, He that came into the world and made His dwelling among men, that He might cast down your tyranny, and deliver men. He that upon the tree triumphed over the opposing powers, when the sun was darkened, and the earth was shaken, and the tombs were opened, and the bodies of the saints arose; He that by death destroyed death, and overcame him that held the might of death, that is even you, O devil.I forbid you by God, who shows forth the tree of life, and ranges the cherubim, and flaming sword that turns about to guard this. Be forbidden! For I forbid you by Him who walks upon the sea as upon dry land, and who forbids the storm of winds, whose glance dries up the the depths, and whose threatenings melt the mountains. For it is He Himself that now forbids you through us. (Book of Needs of the Holy Orthodox Church)Isn't that a marvelous bit of rebuking? :-) Sometimes we just need to tell the devil where to get off, when he's around and bothering us with doubts and temptations especially. So, get lost devil, you've been rebuked in the name of Jesus Christ! Amen.