The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/051616.cfm)
reminds me how powerful faith is, and that we should ask God for
it.
The gospel tells of a story of
a boy possessed by a powerful demon – so powerful that the disciples could not
drive it out. The boy’s father was losing hope, feeling helpless on the
situation. See an excerpt of the conversation between the boy’s father and
Jesus.
“‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one
who has faith.”
Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”
Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”
How often do we act
like the father? How often do we feel helpless in situations, that even us
think that God cannot do anything about it? How often do we say we trust in
God, but are not sure of it ourselves? How often do we say we have faith but
deep in our hearts, we are still troubled and we do not know if God can really
help us out?
As
human beings, we are sometimes limited by what we see. We tend to think “realistically”,
based on our situation or on what is actually happening. We focus on what is
obvious and what we think is possible based on what happened previously or what
our senses can perceive and do. However, unfortunately, sometimes we think God
is in the same boat with us – that he is limited by time and space, that his
power is not real anymore, that he cannot do things except those what we think
is possible and normal. We sometimes base our faith on what we think is
possible instead on what God can do. We say we have faith in God, but at the
back of our minds, we are thinking of alternative ways because we don’t think
God will really come to help us out.
Faith is important for God to do miracles.
It has been mentioned
that faith can move mountains,
and the lack of faith of people caused him not to do many miracles in his own
town. And in the gospel, we are reminded that anything
is possible to one who has faith. We may not immediately have that
strong a faith, and it’s okay. As we can see, the boy’s father cried out to
Jesus. I do
believe, help my unbelief. Yes, I believe but not entirely.
Naniniwala naman ako, Lord, pero kulang pa. I have faith in you – your love and
your power, but sometimes the power of the world, the temptations and
distractions of the world, is just so overwhelming. God, help me. Increase my
faith.
God
hears us. Jesus heard the prayer of the man, and healed the son. God has faith
in us as well. He
filled up what was missing. He added to the lack of faith of the man snd healed
the boy. We need not be perfect, we just need to be humble and
sometimes, that is enough for God.
May we be humble enough to
admit that we lack faith, and pray that God help our unbelief and increase our faith
in Him. May we really remember and live this – nothing is impossible to those
who have faith.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for the weekend. Thank you for your great love and great
power. Thank you for this beautiful reminder as I start the week – that
nothing is impossible to those who have faith. Father God, I pray that you help
me unbelief. I pray that you increase my faith. There are a lot of things I am
thinking – things about my career, my family, and my service to you. Lord, I pray
that you increase my faith and help me just trust in you as I live. I know you
have great plans for me, and I know you will not disappoint me. May I always be
open and allow you to pleasantly surprise me as I live for you. Amen.
Blessed
week!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflections:
May 16, 2016
Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 341
Reading 1 Jas 3:13-18
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.
Alleluia See 2 Tm 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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?”
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mk 9:14-29
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.”
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