May 16, 2016
Monday, 7th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Jas 3: 13-18 Gospel: Mk 9:14–29
When they came to the place where they had left the disciples, they saw many people around and some teachers of the Law arguing with them. When the people saw Jesus, they were astonished and ran to greet him.He asked, “What are you arguing about with them?” A man answered him from the crowd, “Master, I brought my son to you for he has a dumb spirit. Whenever the spirit seizes him, it throws him down and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth and becomes stiff all over. I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they could not.”Jesus replied, “You faithless people. How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him.As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it shook and convulsed the boy who fell on the ground and began rolling about, foaming at the mouth. Then Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “From childhood. And it has often thrown him into the fire and into the water to destroy him. If you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.”Jesus said to him, “Why do you say: ‘If you can?’ All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe, but help the little faith I have.”Jesus saw that the crowd was increasing rapidly, so he ordered the evil spirit, “Dumb and deaf spirit, I command you: Leave the boy and never enter him again.” The evil spirit shook and convulsed the boy and with a terrible shriek came out. The boy lay like a corpse and people said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him and the boy stood up.After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive out the spirit?” And he answered, “Only prayer can drive out this kind, nothing else.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
The time of the devil ended when Jesus became man. The devil still made attempts to possess people even with Jesus in their midst. But when these were reported to Jesus the devil had to scram. Today we are back to square one, not that the devil has regained full control but that society had become so submissive. Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel reading that prayer is the most effective weapon against the devil.
Article 2834 of our Catechism, quoting St. Ignatius de Loyola, says: “Pray like everything depended on God and work like everything depended on you.” Applying this to our struggle against temptation, it is not enough to pray. We must work hard to abort occasions of sin. Surely the devil will scram. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: dan.delosangeles@gmail.com.
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