Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 341
Lectionary: 341
Beloved:
Who among you is wise and understanding?
Let him show his works by a good life
in the humility that comes from wisdom.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts,
do not boast and be false to the truth.
Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above
but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,
there is disorder and every foul practice.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
for those who cultivate peace.
Who among you is wise and understanding?
Let him show his works by a good life
in the humility that comes from wisdom.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts,
do not boast and be false to the truth.
Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above
but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,
there is disorder and every foul practice.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
for those who cultivate peace.
Responsorial Psalm PS 19:8, 9, 10, 15
R. (9a) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Gospel MK
9:14-29
As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John
and approached the other disciples,
they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.
Immediately on seeing him,
the whole crowd was utterly amazed.
They ran up to him and greeted him.
He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”
Someone from the crowd answered him,
“Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit.
Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down;
he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid.
I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.”
He said to them in reply,
“O faithless generation, how long will I be with you?
How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.”
They brought the boy to him.
And when he saw him,
the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions.
As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around
and foam at the mouth.
Then he questioned his father,
“How long has this been happening to him?”
He replied, “Since childhood.
It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him.
But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
Jesus said to him,
“‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.”
Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”
Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering,
rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it,
“Mute and deaf spirit, I command you:
come out of him and never enter him again!”
Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out.
He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!”
But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private,
“Why could we not drive the spirit out?”
He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”
and approached the other disciples,
they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.
Immediately on seeing him,
the whole crowd was utterly amazed.
They ran up to him and greeted him.
He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”
Someone from the crowd answered him,
“Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit.
Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down;
he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid.
I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.”
He said to them in reply,
“O faithless generation, how long will I be with you?
How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.”
They brought the boy to him.
And when he saw him,
the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions.
As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around
and foam at the mouth.
Then he questioned his father,
“How long has this been happening to him?”
He replied, “Since childhood.
It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him.
But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
Jesus said to him,
“‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.”
Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”
Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering,
rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it,
“Mute and deaf spirit, I command you:
come out of him and never enter him again!”
Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out.
He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!”
But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private,
“Why could we not drive the spirit out?”
He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”
Meditation: "All things are possible to him who
believes"
What kind of faith does the Lord Jesus expect of us, especially
when we meet challenges and difficulties? Inevitably there will be times when
each of us cause disappointment to others. In this gospel incident the disciples
of Jesus brought disappointment to a pleading father because they failed to
heal his epileptic son. Jesus' response seemed stern; but it was really
tempered with love and compassion. We see at once both Jesus' dismay with the
disciples' lack of faith and his concern to meet the need of this troubled boy
and his anguished father. Jesus recognized the weakness of the father’s faith
and at the same time challenged him to pray boldly with expectant faith: “All
things are possible to him who believes!”
Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD), in his commentary on this
passage, reminds us that prayer and faith go together: “Where faith fails,
prayer perishes. For who prays for that in which he does not believe? ..So then
in order that we may pray, let us believe, and let us pray that this same faith
by which we pray may not falter.” The Lord gives us his Holy Spirit that we may
have the confidence and boldness we need to ask our heavenly Father for his
help and grace. Do you trust in God’s love and care for you and pray with
expectant faith that he will give you what you need?
When Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, the boy at first seemed to
get worse rather than better as he went into a fit of convulsion. Peter
Chrysologus (400-450 AD), a renowned preacher and bishop of Ravena, reflects on
this incident:
“Though it was the boy who fell on the ground, it was the devil
in him who was in anguish. The possessed boy was merely convulsed, while the
usurping spirit was being convicted by the awesome judge. The captive was
detained, but the captor was punished. Through the wrenching of the human body,
the punishment of the devil was made manifest.”
God promises each one of us freedom from oppression, especially
from the oppression of sin and the evil one who tries to rob us of faith, hope,
and peace with God. The Lord Jesus invites us, as he did this boy’s father, to
pray with expectant faith. Do you trust in God’s unfailing love and mercy?
The mighty works and signs which Jesus did demonstrate that the
kingdom of God is present in him. These signs attest that the Father has sent
him as the promised Messiah. They invite belief in Jesus as the Son of God and
Savior of the world. The coming of God's kingdom means defeat of Satan's
kingdom. Jesus' exorcisms anticipate his great victory over "the ruler of
this world" (John 12:31). While Satan may act in the world out of hatred
for God and his kingdom in Christ Jesus, and may cause grave injuries of a
spiritual nature, and indirectly even of a physical nature, his power is
nonetheless limited and permitted by divine providence (Romans 8:28). Jesus offers
freedom from bondage to sin and Satan. There is no affliction he cannot deliver
us from. Do you make full use of the protection and help he offers to those who
seek him with faith and trust in his mercy?
"Lord Jesus, help my unbelief! Increase my faith and trust
in your saving power. Give me confidence and perseverance, especially in
prayer. And help me to bring your healing love and truth to those I meet".
 Help My Unbelief! |
|
Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
|
|
Father Edward Hopkins, LC
Mark 9:14-29
As Jesus came down the mountain with Peter, James, and John
and approaching the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and
scribes arguing with them. Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was
utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. He asked them, "What
are you arguing about with them?" Someone from the crowd answered him,
"Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit.
Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his
teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they
were unable to do so." He said to them in reply, "O faithless
generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring
him to me." They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit
immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he
began to roll around and foam at the mouth. Then he questioned his father,
"How long has this been happening to him?" He replied, "Since childhood.
It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can
do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Jesus said to him, “‘If
you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith." Then the boy´s
father cried out, "I do believe, help my unbelief!" Jesus, on
seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it,
"Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter
him again!" Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out.
He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, "He is dead!"
But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. When he entered
the house, his disciples asked him in private, "Why could we not drive
it out?” He said to them, "This kind can only come out through
prayer."
Introductory Prayer:Lord
Jesus, I believe in your presence in my life, family and work. I believe that
you ask nothing of me that you do not give me the strength to do. I trust in
the power of your grace and the care of your love. I love you, Lord, and I
wish to love you with this prayer so that I may work according to your will
and in your love.
Petition: I
believe you can change me, Lord.
1. Working Without Faith: The
artist Raphael depicts the poor apostles who, awaiting Our Lord’s return from
Mount Tabor and the Transfiguration, are waving their arms in frustration and
excusing themselves before the desperate father and his family. How often we
try to do what clearly seems to be our work, but without including God in any
real way. Our work seems “dead” until we let Jesus work with us to “raise it
up.” Often we fail even to ask whether what we do is God’s will or not. When
we exclude God from our work or family life, we lack faith. He is there—but
we just don’t allow him room to work. The apostles exercise little faith,
thinking this cure beyond their ability. The father and his family may as
well have lacked faith in what these “apostles” could do. To them, and to us,
Christ says, “O faithless generation!” When do I show a lack of faith in my
work or family life?
2. Jesus’ Ultimate Intention: Instill Faith: When
Jesus is out of sight, the people could only argue. Yet when he comes into
view, the people are “utterly amazed.” Jesus immediately sees their lack of
faith, so he uses every circumstance to inspire faith. What he did for the
chosen three apostles through the Transfiguration, he does now for the nine
at the foot of the mountain. He allows them to fail so as to teach them
faith. He tests the poor father, too: “If you can!” And he instructs all the
apostles on the need for prayer. What is Christ doing in my life to invite me
to greater faith? Do I respond with that faith or do I simply argue, since
Jesus does not appear present?
3. Our Struggle to Believe: The
father’s heartfelt cry is all Jesus needs to drive out the unclean spirit.
The man reaffirms his faith while admitting his weakness. How often do we
assume that our faith is sufficient, all the while blaming God for what
happens in our life? Believing is not easy. It requires a constant
recognition of our limitations, our inability to understand the “why’s” of so
many occurrences, the “how’s” of so many challenges. Jesus does not rebuke
the struggle to believe but rather the lack of effort when we stop believing.
What the apostles failed to do was done by the father with one intense but
short prayer: “Help my unbelief!” This humble confession always comes to rest
on the greatness of God’s power and the comprehensiveness of his love. Do I
believe that everything is possible if I only believe?
Conversation with Christ: Lord,
grant me an increase of faith! Help me to see you present and active in my
everyday life. May I never undertake any work or responsibility without first
determining your will and counting on your assistance. I believe that you can
do all things in me, according to your own will. I believe your will is
committed to what is best for me. Teach me to pray and work with great faith
and trust in you.
Resolution: I will
reject all worries that I can do nothing about, confidently acting upon those
concerns of mine which I can change.
|
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, MARK 9:14-39
(James 3 :13-18; Psalm 19)
(James 3 :13-18; Psalm 19)
KEY VERSE: "All things can be done for the one who believes" (v 23).
READING: When Moses descended from Mount Sinai, he found that the people had lost faith in God and were practicing idolatry (Ex 32:15-20). Likewise, when Jesus came down from the Mountain of the Transfiguration, he was also met with disbelief. Like Moses, Jesus was exasperated with the people's infidelity. A man approached Jesus and asked him if he could cure his son, as his disciples had been unable to do so. The boy apparently suffered from epilepsy. The boy's father confessed his desire to believe, but he also admitted that in this desperate situation he had doubts whether Jesus was able to do so. Jesus told him that all things could be done for those who had faith. The father of the child cried out, "I believe; help my unbelief!" Then Jesus rebuked the power of evil (In the ancient world, illnesses were attributed to evil spirits). Although the boy appeared to be dead, Jesus took his hand and raised him up (a resurrection image). When the awestruck disciples questioned Jesus as to why they had been unable to effect a cure, he answered that faith in God's power must be accompanied by prayer.
REFLECTING: Have I at times failed to trust in Jesus' healing power?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to believe in you in all the difficult situations I face.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Mother Church
No where is the Church more experienced as mother than in the
liturgy. "With a mother's foresight, she lavishes on us day after day in
her liturgy the nourishment of the word and Eucharist of the Lord" (CCC,
2040).
The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart
The reading from the letter of James today takes us back to the
essence of divine revelation.True wisdom is not a human achievement but is from God. Having pointed this out, James is quick to write that true wisdom will be manifested in a good life. ‘Show by your good life’, he suggests, ‘that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.’ There is so much for us personally and for our world to learn from this gentleness born of wisdom. Not least, James points out, that a rich harvest is sown in peace by those who make peace. The words that James uses to describe the kind of living that expresses divine wisdom are encouraging - we must not be full of ourselves but be willing to yield and full of compassion, without a trace of partiality and hypocrisy.
February 24
Blessed Luke Belludi
(1200-c. 1285)
Blessed Luke Belludi
(1200-c. 1285)
In 1220, St. Anthony was preaching conversion to the inhabitants
of Padua when a young nobleman, Luke Belludi, came up to him and humbly asked
to receive the habit of the followers of St. Francis. Anthony liked the
talented, well-educated Luke and personally recommended him to St. Francis, who
then received him into the Franciscan Order.
Luke,
then only 20, was to be Anthony's companion in his travels and in his
preaching, tending to him in his last days and taking Anthony's place upon his
death. He was appointed guardian of the Friars Minor in the city of Padua. In
1239 the city fell into the hands of its enemies. Nobles were put to death, the
mayor and council were banished, the great university of Padua gradually closed
and the church dedicated to St. Anthony was left unfinished. Luke himself was
expelled from the city but secretly returned. At night he and the new guardian
would visit the tomb of St. Anthony in the unfinished shrine to pray for his
help. One night a voice came from the tomb assuring them that the city would
soon be delivered from its evil tyrant.
After the
fulfillment of the prophetic message, Luke was elected provincial minister and
furthered the completion of the great basilica in honor of Anthony, his
teacher. He founded many convents of the order and had, as Anthony, the gift of
miracles. Upon his death he was laid to rest in the basilica that he had helped
finish and has had a continual veneration up to the present time.
Comment:
The epistles refer several times to a man named Luke as Paul’s trusted companion on his missionary journeys. Perhaps every great preacher needs a Luke; Anthony surely did. Luke Belludi not only accompanied Anthony on his travels, he also cared for the great saint in his final illness and carried on Anthony’s mission after the saint’s death. Yes, every preacher needs a Luke, someone to offer support and reassurance—including those who minister to us. We don’t even have to change our names!
The epistles refer several times to a man named Luke as Paul’s trusted companion on his missionary journeys. Perhaps every great preacher needs a Luke; Anthony surely did. Luke Belludi not only accompanied Anthony on his travels, he also cared for the great saint in his final illness and carried on Anthony’s mission after the saint’s death. Yes, every preacher needs a Luke, someone to offer support and reassurance—including those who minister to us. We don’t even have to change our names!
LECTIO DIVINA: MARK 9,14-29
Lectio:
Monday, February 24, 2014
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father,
keep before us the wisdom and love
you have revealed in your Son.
Help us to be like him
in word and deed,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
keep before us the wisdom and love
you have revealed in your Son.
Help us to be like him
in word and deed,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Mark 9,14-29
As they were rejoining the disciples they saw a large crowd
round them and some scribes arguing with them.
At once, when they saw him, the whole crowd were struck with amazement and ran to greet him. And he asked them, 'What are you arguing about with them?' 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 drive it out and they were unable to.' In reply he said to them, 'Faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you?
How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.' They brought the boy to him, and at once the spirit of dumbness 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 said, 'and it has often thrown him into fire and into 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 one who has faith.' At once the father of the boy cried out, 'I have faith. Help my lack of faith!'
And when Jesus saw that a crowd was gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit. 'Deaf and dumb spirit,' he said, 'I command you: come out of him and never enter him again.' Then it threw the boy into violent convulsions and 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 when they were by themselves, 'Why were we unable to drive it out?' He answered, 'This is the kind that can be driven out only by prayer.'
At once, when they saw him, the whole crowd were struck with amazement and ran to greet him. And he asked them, 'What are you arguing about with them?' 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 drive it out and they were unable to.' In reply he said to them, 'Faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you?
How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.' They brought the boy to him, and at once the spirit of dumbness 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 said, 'and it has often thrown him into fire and into 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 one who has faith.' At once the father of the boy cried out, 'I have faith. Help my lack of faith!'
And when Jesus saw that a crowd was gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit. 'Deaf and dumb spirit,' he said, 'I command you: come out of him and never enter him again.' Then it threw the boy into violent convulsions and 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 when they were by themselves, 'Why were we unable to drive it out?' He answered, 'This is the kind that can be driven out only by prayer.'
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today informs us that the disciples of Jesus were
not able to cast out the devil from the body of a boy. The power of evil was
greater than their capacity. Today, also, there are many evils which surpass
our capacity to face them: violence, drugs, war, sickness, jobless people,
terrorism, etc. We make great efforts in life, but it seems that instead of
improving, the world becomes worse. What good is there in struggling? Keeping
this question in mind, let us read and meditate on today’s Gospel.
• Mark 9, 14-22: The situation of the people: despair without solution. Coming down from the mountain of the Transfiguration, Jesus met many people around the disciples. A parent was in despair, because an evil spirit had taken possession of his son. With great detail, Mark describes the situation of the possessed boy, the anguish of the father, the incapacity of the disciples and the reaction of Jesus. Two things strike us in a particular way: on one side, the confusion and the powerlessness of the people and of the disciples in the face of the phenomenon of possession, and on the other hand, the power of faith in Jesus before which the devil loses all his influence. The father had asked the disciples to drive out the devil from the boy, but they were not able to do it. Jesus becomes impatient and says: “Faithless generation! How much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me”. Jesus asks information regarding the sickness of the boy. And from the response of the father, Jesus knows that the boy, “from childhood”, was affected by a serious illness which endangered his life. The father asked: “But if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us!” The phrase of the father expresses a very real situation of the people: (a) they are faithless; (b) they are not in a condition to solve the problem, but (c) have such good will.
• Mark 9, 23-27: The answer of Jesus: the way of faith. The father answers: Lord, I believe! But help my lack of faith! The response of the father has the central place in this episode. It indicates that this should be the attitude of the disciple, that, in spite of his/her limitations and doubts, he/she wants to be faithful. Seeing that many people were coming, Jesus acted rapidly. He ordered the spirit to get out of the boy and not to return “again ever!” This is a sign of the power of Jesus on evil. It is also a sign that Jesus did not want any popular propaganda.
• Mark 9, 28-29: Deepening this with the disciples. In the house, the disciples want to know why they were not able to drive out the devil. Jesus answers: This is the kind of evil spirit that can be driven out only by prayer! Faith and prayer go together. One does not exist without the other. The disciples had become worse. Before they were capable of driving out the devil (cfr. Mk 6, 7.13). Now, no more. What is lacking? Faith or prayer? Why is it lacking? These are questions which come from the text and enter into our head in a way that we can proceed also to a kind of revision of our life.
• The expulsion of the devils in the Gospel of Mark. During the time of Jesus many persons spoke of Satan and of the expulsion of the devils. People were afraid and, there were some persons who profited and took advantage of the fear of the people. The power of evil had many names: Demon, Devil, Beelzebul, Prince of Demons, Satan, Dragon, Domination, Power, Beast-wild animal, Lucifer, etc. (cfr. Mk 3, 22-23; Mt 4, 1; Rv 12, 9; Rm 8, 38;; Eph 1, 21). Today also, among us the power of evil has many names. It is enough to consult the dictionary and look for the word Devil or Demon. Today, also, many dishonest people enrich themselves, profiting of the fear which people have of the devil. Now, one of the objectives of the Good News of Jesus is, precisely, to help people to free themselves from this fear. The coming of the Kingdom of God means the coming of a stronger power. The strong man was an image which indicated the power of evil which maintained people imprisoned by fear (Mk 3, 27). The power of fear oppresses persons and makes them lose themselves. He does in such a way that they live in fear and death (cfr. Mk 5, 2). It is such a strong power that nobody can stop it (Mk 5, 4). The Roman Empire with its “Legion” (cfr. Mk 5, 9), that is, with its armies, was the instrument used to maintain this situation of oppression. But Jesus is the strongest man who overcomes, seizes and drives out the power of evil! In the Letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul gives a list of all the possible powers or demons which could threaten us and he summarizes everything in this way: “I am certain of this: neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nothing already in existence and nothing still to come, nor any power, nor the heights nor the depths, nor any created thing whatever, will be able to come between us and the love of God, known to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord!” (Rm 8, 38-39). Nothing of all this! And the first words of Jesus after the Resurrection are: “Do not be afraid! Rejoice! Do not fear! Peace be with you!” (Mk 16, 6; Mt 28, 9-10; Lk 24, 36; Jn 20, 21).
• Mark 9, 14-22: The situation of the people: despair without solution. Coming down from the mountain of the Transfiguration, Jesus met many people around the disciples. A parent was in despair, because an evil spirit had taken possession of his son. With great detail, Mark describes the situation of the possessed boy, the anguish of the father, the incapacity of the disciples and the reaction of Jesus. Two things strike us in a particular way: on one side, the confusion and the powerlessness of the people and of the disciples in the face of the phenomenon of possession, and on the other hand, the power of faith in Jesus before which the devil loses all his influence. The father had asked the disciples to drive out the devil from the boy, but they were not able to do it. Jesus becomes impatient and says: “Faithless generation! How much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me”. Jesus asks information regarding the sickness of the boy. And from the response of the father, Jesus knows that the boy, “from childhood”, was affected by a serious illness which endangered his life. The father asked: “But if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us!” The phrase of the father expresses a very real situation of the people: (a) they are faithless; (b) they are not in a condition to solve the problem, but (c) have such good will.
• Mark 9, 23-27: The answer of Jesus: the way of faith. The father answers: Lord, I believe! But help my lack of faith! The response of the father has the central place in this episode. It indicates that this should be the attitude of the disciple, that, in spite of his/her limitations and doubts, he/she wants to be faithful. Seeing that many people were coming, Jesus acted rapidly. He ordered the spirit to get out of the boy and not to return “again ever!” This is a sign of the power of Jesus on evil. It is also a sign that Jesus did not want any popular propaganda.
• Mark 9, 28-29: Deepening this with the disciples. In the house, the disciples want to know why they were not able to drive out the devil. Jesus answers: This is the kind of evil spirit that can be driven out only by prayer! Faith and prayer go together. One does not exist without the other. The disciples had become worse. Before they were capable of driving out the devil (cfr. Mk 6, 7.13). Now, no more. What is lacking? Faith or prayer? Why is it lacking? These are questions which come from the text and enter into our head in a way that we can proceed also to a kind of revision of our life.
• The expulsion of the devils in the Gospel of Mark. During the time of Jesus many persons spoke of Satan and of the expulsion of the devils. People were afraid and, there were some persons who profited and took advantage of the fear of the people. The power of evil had many names: Demon, Devil, Beelzebul, Prince of Demons, Satan, Dragon, Domination, Power, Beast-wild animal, Lucifer, etc. (cfr. Mk 3, 22-23; Mt 4, 1; Rv 12, 9; Rm 8, 38;; Eph 1, 21). Today also, among us the power of evil has many names. It is enough to consult the dictionary and look for the word Devil or Demon. Today, also, many dishonest people enrich themselves, profiting of the fear which people have of the devil. Now, one of the objectives of the Good News of Jesus is, precisely, to help people to free themselves from this fear. The coming of the Kingdom of God means the coming of a stronger power. The strong man was an image which indicated the power of evil which maintained people imprisoned by fear (Mk 3, 27). The power of fear oppresses persons and makes them lose themselves. He does in such a way that they live in fear and death (cfr. Mk 5, 2). It is such a strong power that nobody can stop it (Mk 5, 4). The Roman Empire with its “Legion” (cfr. Mk 5, 9), that is, with its armies, was the instrument used to maintain this situation of oppression. But Jesus is the strongest man who overcomes, seizes and drives out the power of evil! In the Letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul gives a list of all the possible powers or demons which could threaten us and he summarizes everything in this way: “I am certain of this: neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nothing already in existence and nothing still to come, nor any power, nor the heights nor the depths, nor any created thing whatever, will be able to come between us and the love of God, known to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord!” (Rm 8, 38-39). Nothing of all this! And the first words of Jesus after the Resurrection are: “Do not be afraid! Rejoice! Do not fear! Peace be with you!” (Mk 16, 6; Mt 28, 9-10; Lk 24, 36; Jn 20, 21).
4) Personal questions
• Have you ever lived an experience of powerlessness before some
evil or violence? Was this an experience for you only or also for the
community? How did you overcome it?
• Which is the type of evil today which can only be overcome with much prayer?
• Which is the type of evil today which can only be overcome with much prayer?
5) Concluding Prayer
The precepts of Yahweh are honest,
joy for the heart;
the commandment of Yahweh is pure,
light for the eyes. (Ps 19,8)
joy for the heart;
the commandment of Yahweh is pure,
light for the eyes. (Ps 19,8)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét