Reflection for MONDAY, 7th Week, Ordinary Time.

By

 

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Director, Social Action Movement, Don Bosco Bidar

Today's Gospel Reading 

Mark 9:14-29 

Help the little faith I have!

When Jesus, with Peter, James and John came down from the mountain and rejoined the disciples, they saw a large crowd round them and some scribes arguing with them. The moment they saw him the whole crowd were struck with amazement and ran to greet him. ‘What are you arguing about with them?’ he asked. A man answered him from the crowd, ‘Master, I have brought my son to you; there is a spirit of dumbness in him, and when it takes hold of him it throws him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and goes rigid. And I asked your disciples to cast it out and they were unable to.’ ‘You faithless generation’ he said to them in reply. ‘How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.’ They brought the boy to him, and as soon as the spirit saw Jesus it threw the boy into convulsions, and he fell to the ground and lay writhing there, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ ‘From childhood,’ he replied ‘and it has often thrown him into the fire and into the water, in order to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.’ ‘If you can?’ retorted Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for anyone who has faith.’ Immediately the father of the boy cried out, ‘I do have faith. Help the little faith I have!’ And when Jesus saw how many people were pressing round him, he rebuked the unclean spirit. ‘Deaf and dumb spirit,’ he said ‘I command you: come out of him and never enter him again.’ Then throwing the boy into violent convulsions it came out shouting, and the boy lay there so like a corpse that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him up, and he was able to stand. When he had gone indoors his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why were we unable to cast it out?’ ‘This is the kind’ he answered ‘that can only be driven out by prayer.’


Reflection on the readings 

Human beings are intelligent beings.

By intelligence, it means the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.

But being intelligent may not necessary mean that it is synonymous with wisdom.

A person may be intelligent and know how to get on with life but may be lacking in wisdom to relate with others and to know what is good for himself and for others too.

The 1st reading says that God pours out wisdom on all His works to be with all mankind as His gift, and He conveyed wisdom to those who love him.

So for those who love God, they will be granted wisdom.

Because they love God, they will have the wisdom to do what is good and loving for others.

In the gospel, the disciples asked Jesus why was it that they were unable to cast out that evil spirit in the boy.

Jesus replied that it can only be driven out by prayer.

For those who love God and have faith in Him, they know that everything is possible.

But they will also have the wisdom to know that they must pray first so that God will guide them to do what is good and loving.

May we too pray for the gift of divine wisdom so that God will guide us to do what is good and loving.

GOD BLESS YOU

Good morning. Have a nice day.