Daily Readings - Mon Feb 20 2023
Sirach
1All wisdom is from the Lord God, and has always been with him, and is before all time2Who has numbered the sand of the sea, and the drops of the rain, and the days of the world? Who has measured the height of heaven, and the breadth of the earth, and the depth of the abyss3Who has examined the wisdom of God, which precedes all things4Wisdom was created before all things, and the understanding of prudence is before all time5The Word of God on high is the source of wisdom, whose steps are eternal commandments6To whom has the root of wisdom been revealed, and who has recognized her astuteness7To whom has the discipline of wisdom been revealed and made manifest? And who has understood the multiplicity of her steps8The most high omnipotent Creator is One, and he is the mighty King, and he is exceedingly to be feared, sitting upon his throne, and he is the sovereign God9He created wisdom through the Holy Spirit, and he saw her, and numbered her, and measured her10And he poured her over all his works, and over all flesh, to the extent of his favor, and he has offered her to those who love him
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
The first reading from Sirach reminds us that all wisdom comes from God, who is the Creator and the source of all understanding. It emphasizes that true wisdom is not just human knowledge but a divine gift that flows from God’s eternal and omnipotent nature. The reading invites us to recognize God’s presence in all creation and to seek wisdom through humility and reverence.
In the Gospel, Mark presents a dramatic scene where Jesus heals a boy possessed by an unclean spirit. The boy’s father, desperate and struggling with doubt, cries out to Jesus, “I do believe, Lord. Help my unbelief.” This heartfelt plea reflects the human condition—our desire to trust in God’s power, even when we feel limited by our own faith. Jesus’ response highlights the importance of prayer and fasting in overcoming spiritual struggles, teaching us that some challenges require deeper devotion and reliance on God.
Both readings call us to trust in God’s power and wisdom. Sirach reminds us that wisdom is a gift from God, while Mark’s Gospel shows us that faith, even imperfect faith, can move mountains when we turn to God in prayer. In our daily lives, we are often faced with challenges that test our faith, but these readings encourage us to approach them with humility, persistence, and trust in God’s providence. Let us seek wisdom by drawing closer to God and remember that even in our doubts, God’s grace can transform us.