THEOSISBeda Venerabilis
One must note that among the young men, half engaged in the task while the other half stood ready for battle, and importantly, those who were working were equipped with swords. The ancient adversary displays remarkable cunning and a fierce animosity in his assaults against the Church, compelling not only the proclaimers of truth but also the faithful themselves to remain vigilant against his schemes as if prepared for combat. Thus, the builders are equipped with swords at their sides, striving to uphold those entrusted to their care in a righteous manner, actively placing living stones into the edifice of the holy city. This endeavor serves as a safeguard against the pitfalls of a negligent existence, utilizing the sharpness of God’s Word.
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It’s essential to recognize that during the construction of this city by David and Solomon, there is no record of armed builders or threats from foes. Yet, a city that has been laid waste due to its iniquities is resurrected with immense toil, primarily because the spiritual edifice linked to the redemption of souls is such that upon being reborn through baptism, faith, and the confession of the Most Holy Trinity, we are made, by divine grace, His city and His dwelling without any effort on our part. However, should we, after our cleanse in the sacred waters, succumb to sin under the devil's temptations, and should our victorious enemy exploit the softness of our virtues with vice's flames, it then becomes necessary for us to rehabilitate the structures of good deeds we have forfeited, through intensified prayer, self-discipline, watchfulness, charitable acts, and a life of austerity. Indeed, it proves more challenging for us to detach ourselves from known temptations than from those we have yet to encounter, and it is easier to resist unfamiliar pleasures of the flesh than to renounce those that have become ingrained within us.