In today’s readings, Irenaeus gives a vivid picture of the kingdom before the final judgment—a time when the righteous will rise, inherit the renewed creation, and reign with Christ, fulfilling the promises made to Abraham and the patriarchs (Romans 8:19–21; Matthew 5:5). Augustine reflects on the difficulty of discovering truth, yet clings to God’s promise that those who seek will find, meditating on the mystery of the visible heaven and the “heaven of heavens” that belongs to the Lord alone (Matthew 7:7–8; Psalm 115:16). Thomas Aquinas answers whether men are assailed by demons, affirming that God allows such assaults not for our ruin but for the proving and strengthening of our faith, just as He allowed Job and Peter to be tested (Job 1:12; Luke 22:31–32).

Readings:

Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 5, Chapters 32–33

Augustine, The Confessions, Book 12, Chapters 1–2

Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Part 1, Question 114, Article 1

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