FIRST READING
Wisdom was created before all things.
The beginning of the Book of Jesus, son of Sirach 1:1-10
All wisdom comes from the Lord and is with him forever. The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity — who can count them? The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, the abyss, and wisdom — who can search them out? Wisdom was created before all things, and prudent understanding from eternity. The source of wisdom is God’s word in the highest heaven, and her ways are the eternal commandments. The root of wisdom to whom has it been revealed? Her clever devices — who knows them? The knowledge of wisdom — to whom was it manifested? And her abundant experience — who has understood it? There is one who is wise, the Creator of all, the King greatly to be feared, sitting upon his throne, and ruling as God. The Lord himself created wisdom in the Holy Spirit; he saw her and apportioned her, he poured her out upon all his works. She dwells with all flesh according to his gift, and he supplied her to those who love him.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm93:1abc. 1d-2.5 (R. 1a)
R/. The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.
The LORD is king, with majesty enrobed.
The Lord has robed himself with might,
he has girded himself with power. R/.
The world you made firm, not to be moved;
your throne has stood firm from of old.
From all eternity, O Lord, you are. R/.
R/. The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.
Truly your decrees are to be trusted.
Holiness is fitting to your house,
O Lord, until the end of time. R/.
ALLELUIA 2 Timothy 1:10
Alleluia. Our Saviour Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“I believe, help my unbelief.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 9: 14-29
At that time: [When Jesus came down the mountain with Peter and James and John] and they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd about them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” And one of the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a mute spirit; and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has he had this?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
The book of Sirach tells us that ‘before all things, wisdom was created’ and the word of God is the fountain of wisdom. Definitely, if we immerse ourselves in the word of God, we will have everlasting wisdom; for the word of God will be a lamp for our feet and a light on our path (Ps 119:105). This wisdom will be for us faith; faith that will not make us say ‘if you can ‘but know that nothing is impossible with God. Yes, the lack of faith on the part of the other disciples make is difficult for them to drive out the mute spirit in the little boy. They have forgotten that everything is possible to one who has faith and if only their faith is as little as the mustard seed, they can move mountains. The church tells us that faith is the supernatural gift that enables us to believe without doubting what God has revealed. No wonder, when the boy’s father demonstrates his faith in God saying ‘I believe, help my unbelief,’ his request is granted. Let us not be a faithless generation but let us continually seek the wisdom of God and be faithful children of God.