REFLECTION

Gospel

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?” He said to them, “This kind can only come out through Prayer”                                   Mark 9: 14-29

Reflection

The word of God on High is the fountain of wisdom, and is always everlasting…

Do we thirst for this wisdom from the fountain of God’s word? Do we drink from it when we hear God’s word, and the WORD made flesh when Jesus speaks? What do we hear in the Gospels as we hear it proclaimed or hold it in our hearts to ponder?

Or do we hear God’s word calling out to us through creation? For wisdom existed before all things were created. God lives in our world and in the depths of the universe. What do you hear when you see the new images from the James Webb telescope? The Wisdom of God calls out from the cosmos. I am Beauty! I am Mystery! I am Beyond Comprehension! I am eternity! I am the Alpha and the Omega!

God has poured Wisdom, forth upon all! Upon every living thing it is lavished upon us! Friends of God!

Jesus and his friends come down from the mountain. Today’s Gospel passage immediately follows the experience of the Transfiguration. Peter, James, and John have experienced the mystery of Jesus and heard God’s voice. Now, people in town seek Jesus to heal a lad stricken by a demon. It was quite powerful too! So much so the disciples could not cast it out of the boy. Jesus replies when asked why they were unable to do so, he replied, This kind can only come out through prayer.

Our Gospel tells us to remember. We must be in communication with Wisdom who is Spirit, with Jesus. We must pray. We must believe in the power of prayer as we become a living prayer. We must believe in the power of prayer to be with us in times of suffering and encounters with evil forces within our world. Believe in God’s loving communication through each of us.

Wisdom speaks. The Spirit of God is alive and well within each of us. As we move toward Lent, I urge us to be with Wisdom. Listen to God’s voice as the disciples heard on Mt. Tabor. This is my son, Jesus, Listen to him! Yes, listen. Talk with Jesus.

You too will come to know the discipline of wisdom revealed, understand the ways and subtleties through Jesus.

Wisdom will reveal to you the power of God’s Word!

Pray. Drink from the fountain of God.

Julie Leonard

Religious Education Leader/Wellbeing Leader