Daily Readings - Mon Feb 24 2020
James
13Who is wise and well-taught among you? Let him show, by means of good conversation, his work in the meekness of wisdom14But if you hold a bitter zeal, and if there is contention in your hearts, then do not boast and do not be liars against the truth15For this is not wisdom, descending from above, but rather it is earthly, beastly, and diabolical16For wherever envy and contention is, there too is inconstancy and every depraved work17But within the wisdom that is from above, certainly, chastity is first, and next peacefulness, meekness, openness, consenting to what is good, a plenitude of mercy and good fruits, not judging, without falseness18And so the fruit of justice is sown in peace by those who make peace
Mark
14And approaching his disciples, he saw a great crowd surrounding them, and the scribes were arguing with them15And soon all the people, seeing Jesus, were astonished and struck with fear, and hurrying to him, they greeted him16And he questioned them, "What are you arguing about among yourselves?17And one from the crowd responded by saying: "Teacher, I have brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit18And whenever it takes hold of him, it throws him down, and he foams and gnashes with his teeth, and he becomes unconscious. And I asked your disciples to cast him out, and they could not.19And answering them, he said: "O unbelieving generation, how long must I be with you? How long shall I endure you? Bring him to me.20And they brought him. And when he had seen him, immediately the spirit disturbed him. And having been thrown to the ground, he rolled around foaming21And he questioned his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" But he said: "From infancy22And often it casts him into fire or into water, in order to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, help us and take pity on us.23But Jesus said to him, "If you are able to believe: all things are possible to one who believes.24And immediately the father of the boy, crying out with tears, said: "I do believe, Lord. Help my unbelief.25And when Jesus saw the crowd rushing together, he admonished the unclean spirit, saying to him, "Deaf and mute spirit, I command you, leave him; and do not enter into him anymore.26And crying out, and convulsing him greatly, he departed from him. And he became like one who is dead, so much so that many said, "He is dead.27But Jesus, taking him by the hand, lifted him up. And he arose28And when he had entered into the house, his disciples questioned him privately, "Why were we unable to cast him out?29And he said to them, "This kind is able to be expelled by nothing other than prayer and fasting.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore the themes of wisdom and faith, each highlighting the necessity of divine grace in our lives. James 3:13-18 distinguishes between earthly wisdom, marked by bitterness and envy, and heavenly wisdom, characterized by peace, meekness, and mercy. This wisdom is not just intellectual but transformative, leading to good deeds done in humility.
In Mark 9:14-29, we witness a powerful example of faith in action. A father, desperate for his son's healing, approaches Jesus after the disciples fail. Jesus emphasizes the importance of faith, stating that belief can move mountains. The father's honest cry, "I do believe, help my unbelief," exemplifies the human condition—acknowledging our limited faith while seeking God's grace. Jesus heals the boy, teaching that some spiritual challenges require prayer and fasting, beyond superficial efforts.
These readings connect by illustrating that true wisdom and power come from God. James shows that wisdom leads to harmonious living, while Mark demonstrates that faith, supported by spiritual discipline, can overcome even the most daunting challenges. In our daily lives, this means trusting God in difficult times, engaging in persistent prayer, and living with the humility that recognizes our need for divine grace. Let us deepen our faith and spiritual practices, remembering that true strength and wisdom flow from God alone.