Saturday, May 21, 2016
Monday, 7TH Week in Ordinary Time
16 May 2016
Monday, 7TH Week in Ordinary Time
St. Andrew Bobola, Priest and Martyr
Memorial. Red.
Jas 3:13 –18 / Mk 9:14 – 29
St. Andrew Bobola (1591 – 1657), a Jesuit traveling missionary, was viciously murdered by Cossacks in Poland.
From the Gospel Reading: Mk 9: 16 - 29
Jesus 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 spirit, deaf and mute. 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."
Reflection
Today's Gospel account of the healing of a boy possessed by an unclean spirit teaches us two very important truths.
The first is that faith is not just a one-time decision or event. In the case of the boy's father, his little faith had to grow into total trust in Jesus. He must have known of the healing miracles performed by our Lord. That was the reason he brought his son to him. However, the words he used in his initial request to Jesus showed that he was not very sure that Jesus could heal his son. Acknowledging his little faith, he also asked for the grace of a deeper faith that Jesus could heal his son.
Do we pray with full expectation that the Lord who knows and always wants to give what is best for us will surely answer our prayers?
The second reality is that all healing has its origin in God. All of us are merely instruments of the healing love of God. When Jesus told his disciples that only prayer could drive out the unclean spirit, he was reminding them that in their ministry to the sick, they were just instruments of the healing power of God. For those of us called to the health-care profession or healing ministry, using our God-given talents and learned skills or knowledge in ministering to the sick, are we always aware of this reality?
WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:
BIRTHDAY
Lida P. Garcia
Wilfredo E. Rodriguez Jr
IN MEMORIAM (+)
Franklin Roger L. Sun
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 5:17 PM 
