20 February 2017

by

Monday, 20 February 2017 : 7th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we are reminded that while we mankind can perform all sorts of wonderful deeds and achievements, but we are truly nothing compared to the wonders of our God. And we are also nothing if we do not have God on our side. If we are separated from God, we cannot do anything, as all that we have achieved all ultimately have come from God.

Without God, His wisdom and grace, there will be no wisdom in us, as we are all like empty vessels made from dust, as when He created us from the earth, without the Wisdom of the Spirit of God, which He Himself placed in us. And for all of our boasting and hubris about our own achievements and abilities, not even mankind’s greatest technologies and achievements are able to give an answer for all of our needs.

It is in God alone that we can find an answer to all of our needs. In the matter of the material and worldliness, indeed, we may be able to find satisfaction and answer from the world and its ways, but in the matter of the spiritual, our answer comes from God alone. That is why in the Gospel today, Jesus chided and rebuked His disciples and the people for their lack of faith in Him.

They tried to cast out the evil spirits in the boy, but they did not have complete faith in Him. They perhaps had thought that they had their power of healing and creating miracles because of their own power and might, but all the authority which had been given to them came ultimately from God. God granted them the power and authority over the whole world, over all mankind, and even over the spiritual forces, the evil spirits.

Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith, and said that there is a need for them to have faith in Him. Without faith, there could be no healing and power, and without faith, nothing good will happen. It was because of faith that the Lord was able to exercise His work and power through His people and principally through His disciples. They carry out the good works of His hands, and He gave them the means to do so.

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all ask ourselves, whether we have been faithful to God, and not just any kind of faith, but indeed, to have a genuine and true faith in the Lord. Faith in the Lord is the foundation of everything we have, and should be the cornerstone of all of our actions, words and deeds. With faith, even things that seem to be impossible are possible, for nothing is truly impossible with God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as Christians it is important that each and every one of us must have genuine faith in our God. We must not become only a ‘paper’ Christian, where we are just Christians by formality, or because we have been brought up in the faith but then we do nothing more or worse still, want to have nothing to do with our faith and beliefs in God.

We must show our faith through action, to show that what we believe in God, is not just a formality alone, but instead that we really ingrain it in ourselves, that we really understand and appreciate the importance of our faith in our lives. Let us all therefore from now onwards, if we have not done so, spend our time to carry out good works of charity, love and mercy, and also showing care and concern for one another, for our neighbours, especially those who have fallen in the darkness and become lost from God and from us.

May the Lord bless us all and may He strengthen our faith. May He empower us with the strength to carry out daily what He has given us to do. May He be the pillar of our strength, and may He be the foundation of our lives. God be with us all, now and forever. Amen.

by

Monday, 20 February 2017 : 7th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green
Mark 9 : 14-29

At that time, when Jesus and His disciples, Peter, James and John came to the place where they had left the disciples, they saw many people around them and some teachers of the Law arguing with them. When the people saw Jesus, they were astonished and ran to greet Him.

He asked, “What are you arguing about with them?” A man answered Him from the crowd, “Master, I brought my son to You, for he has a spirit, deaf and mute. Whenever the spirit seizes him, it throws him down and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth and becomes stiff all over. I asked Your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they could not.”

Jesus replied, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to Me.” And the brought the boy to Him. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it shook and convulsed the boy, who fell on the ground, and began rolling about, foaming at the mouth.

Then Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “From childhood. And it has often thrown him into the fire and into the water to destroy him. If You can do anything, have pity on us and help us.”

Jesus said to him, “Why do you say, ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe, but help the little faith I have.” Jesus saw that the crowd was increasing rapidly, so He ordered the evil spirit, “Dumb and deaf spirit, I command you : Leave the boy and never enter him again.”

The evil spirit shook and convulsed the boy and with a terrible shriek came out. The boy lay like a corpse and people said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him and the boy stood up. After Jesus had gone indoors, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not drive out the spirit?”

And He answered, “Only prayer can drive out this kind, nothing else.”

by

Monday, 20 February 2017 : 7th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green
Psalm 92 : 1ab, 1c-2, 5

The Lord reigns, robed in majesty; the Lord is girded with strength.

The world now is firm, it cannot be moved. Your throne stands from long ago, o Lord, from all eternity You are.

Your decrees can be trusted; holiness dwells in Your house day after day without end, o Lord.

by

Monday, 20 February 2017 : 7th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green
Sirach 1 : 1-10

All wisdom comes from the Lord and endures with Him forever. The grains of sand, the drops of rain and the days of eternity, who can count them? The height of heaven, the extent of the earth and the depths of the abyss, who can measure them?

Wisdom was created before all things and the prudent intellect before the beginning of time. To whom was the source of Wisdom revealed? Who has known her secret designs? One alone is wise and greatly to be feared. The One Who is seated upon His throne.

The Lord Himself created Wisdom. He looked on her and knew her value. He poured her out over all His works; upon all mortal beings, in accordance with His goodness. He lavished her on those who love Him.