7th Week in Ordinary Time
20th February 2023 (Monday) Readings and Reflection
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Reading of the Day
First Reading: Sirach 1:1-10
All wisdom comes from the Lord and is with him for ever. The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity-who will count them? The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, the Abyss and wisdom-who will search them out? Wisdom was created before all things, and prudent understanding from eternity. The source of wisdom is God's word in the highest heaven, and her ways are eternal commandments. The root of wisdom-to whom has it been revealed? Her great deeds-who knows them? The knowledge of wisdom-to whom was it manifested? And her abundant experience-who has understood it? There is one who is wise, greatly to be feared, sitting upon his throne. The Lord himself created wisdom; he saw her and apportioned her, he poured her out upon all his works, with all flesh according to his gift, and he supplied her to those who persisted in loving him.
Psalm 93:1abc, 1d-2, 5 (R. 1a)
R/. The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.
Gospel : Mark 9:14-29
At that time: [When Jesus came down the mountain with Peter and James and John] they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" And someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer."
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: No substitute for prayer!
Indicative: The world of today bothers so much to develop intelligence and knowledge. But it miserably lacks and fails in wisdom. It does not realise that wisdom is the most important need{alertSuccess}
1. In the gospel, we have a very vivid description of a boy possessed by an unclean spirit. It makes him deaf and mute. It seizes him violently and often throws him down, rolling around. he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. Often throws him into fire and water to kill him.
2. This exactly represents our present society. It is a society that is possessed by unclean spirits. The signs and effects are quite obvious. Many have an unclean spirit. They are so polluted and corrupted.
3. Many are deaf and mute. They cannot hear God and good. They do not pay attention at all. They have neither the time nor the heart to listen to others. They are mute. They do not speak God and good. They do not raise their voice to stand for justice or to offer comfort to others.
4. These possessed people are violent. They emit foam and fury. They grind their teeth in hatred and retaliation. They are so rigid and hard-hearted. They throw themselves down, roll around and make a mess of things. They create scenes and fear in others. Often these become self-ruinous and ruin others as well.
5. Therefore, the world needs healing. And as we are God’s chosen people, the world may turn to us for healing before they approach the Lord. It is sad that often we too fail just as the disciples failed to drive out the unclean spirit.
6. When asked, Jesus plainly tells them that the failure to heal is due to the lack of prayer. Matthew adds in 17.21 “fasting” too to prayer. Therefore, it is clear that it is only prayer that can drive out the demon. Prayer is surrender to God in faith,
7. Perhaps this is what the disciples lacked and so failed. They trusted in themselves. Perhaps they were complacent. They forget that their power is not their own. It is derived from the Lord and is delegated by him. Therefore, their power works only when they depend on their Lord.
8. Perhaps they were also tempted toward self-glory. They wanted to display their power before the people. They wanted to make impression on the people about their greatness. In this process, they fail to pray and seek their power from the Lord.
9. In this context, the first reading suggests to us that we need wisdom. Yes, that wisdom that comes from the Lord, which is eternal, prudent understanding, and discerning and which springs from the fountain of the word of God, is needed to seek our power and light from the Lord on the ground of prayer.
Imperative: As gifted with God’s power and engaged actively in His mission, we may be in the limelight and popular. But let us always bear in mind that if left to us, we will fail. Let us then never be self-seeking{alertSuccess}