Daily Readings - Mon Feb 24 2020
James
13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Mark
14And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.15And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.16And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?17And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;18And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.19He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.20And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.21And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.22And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.23Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.24And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.25When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.26And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.27But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.28And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?29And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by 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.