Monday, February 25, 2019
7th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Sir 1:1-10
Gospel: Mark 9:14-29
When Jesus 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 Philippines has been enslaved by the evils of poverty, corruption, and immorality. This slavery put us in a worse position compared to the possessed man in today’s gospel reading. Why, because while prayer solved his problem, ours have persisted despite the prayers we have recited.
Might this be because of our failure to be a united praying country?
While we pray individually, we are not a united praying community. Consider how a group offers eggs at the Carmelite Monastery to pray for rain, and another with more eggs praying for sunshine. While some pray for clean and honest elections, others pray that their candidate win at all cost. We do not pray as we should. No wonder we are still beset by the evils of poverty, corruption, and immorality – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M.
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