Let Go and Let God

GOSPEL

In today’s Gospel, Jesus told His disciples that the demon could only be driven out through prayer.
This is His way of telling the disciples that they are not prayerful enough. What does it mean to be
prayerful? There is no single answer to this question in terms of time spent in prayer. Each of us
needs to discover and develop our own relationship with Jesus and follow Him.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.

Mark 9:14-29

14
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. 15Immediately
on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. 16 He
asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 Someone from the crowd answered
him, “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. 18 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.” 19 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.” 20 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. 21 Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He
replied, “Since childhood. 22 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.” 23 Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’
Everything is possible to one who has faith.” 24 Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe,
help my unbelief!” 25 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!” 26 Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a
corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand, raised
him, and he stood up. 28 When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why
could we not drive it out?” 29 He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

think: How is your prayer life?

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T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for:

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 HELP MY UNBELIEF
Jesus lived every moment with radical, childlike trust in the Father. His total
dependence gave Him the power to do God’s will always.

Mark, the author of today’s Gospel reading, places the miracle of the possessed boy
within the broader context of the final journey to Jerusalem. It does not only
illustrate the authority of Jesus, but also reveals another dimension of discipleship.
When the father of the possessed boy approaches Jesus, he reveals a shaky, half-
hearted hope: “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus
challenges his attitude with a promise: “Everything is possible to one who has faith.”

This is an invitation to share in Jesus’ own abiding trust in God. The man’s response
sets an example for all Christians who struggle with their faith: “I do believe, help my
unbelief.” Because of the man’s humble and honest response, Jesus proceeds to heal
his son.

Our unbelief hinders or “disables” God from performing mighty deeds for us. But
with enough faith on our part, God can and will perform mighty deeds for us and
through us—He can make everything possible to us.

However, faith is not the assurance that whatever we ask of God will be granted to
us. Rather, it is our certainty that God’s will—which is the best for us—will be done
to us. Fr. Nelson Orqueta

------- REFLECTION QUESTION -------

Is there something that hinders your faith right now?

Lord, help my unbelief and help me to put my complete trust in You. Help me to learn to
let go, and let You, my God, be God in my life, that I may experience peace and joy, and
that I may recognize the blessings You give me. Help me to unburden myself with so much
regret and guilt about what I have not done and should have done, that I may see a new
day, a new beginning, a fresh start. Help me to free myself from too much worry and
anxiety about things that may or may not happen that I may really be in the present and
enjoy the moment. Amen.