Contemplating today's Gospel: 200 priests comment on daily Gospel each day
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Liturgic day: Monday 7th in Ordinary Time
Gospel text (Mk 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».
Comment: Fr. Antoni CAROL i Hostench (Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain)
I do believe, but help the little faith I have
Today, we see —once again!— the Lord being approached by people («and they ran to greet him») and, at the same time, we witness his solicitude towards those who need him, always sensible to their needs. In the first place, wondering what is going on, He asks the crowd; then, He gets involved with in the problem.
A man from the crowd intervenes. He is the father of a boy that is seized by a dumb spirit: «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» (Mk 9:17-18).
It is terrible what the Devil can do!, a creature without charity. —O Lord, we must pray!: «And deliver us from evil». It is hard to understand those who, today, still claim there is no Devil, or even worse, those who render him some type of cult... Nonsense, is not it? We should learn a lesson: it is just too risky to play with fire!
«I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they could not» (Mk 9:18). When Jesus heard these words, He became angry. Angry, mostly, for their lack of faith... Lacking faith because they had to pray more: «Only prayer can drive out this kind (of spirits), nothing else» (Mk 9:29).
Prayer is an “intimist” dialogue with God. John Paul II affirms that «prayer brings always some kind of secluded retreat with Christ in God. The Holy Spirit only acts in such “secluded retreat”». And only in such an intimate atmosphere of retirement can we practice a friendly assiduity with Jesus, which, in turn, increases our confidence in Him, or what is the same, increases our faith.
But this faith, that can move mountains and drives out the evil spirits («All things are possible for one who believes!») is, above all, a gift from God. Our prayer, in any case, prepare us to receive that gift. However, we have to beg for this gift: «I do believe, but help the little faith I have» (Mk 9:24). Christ's response will not take long!