Fr. Mike’s Homily for Monday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle II (2)

Fr. Mike’s Homily for Monday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle II 

Theme: Everything is possible to one who has faith

By: Fr. Mike Lagrimas
St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Diocese of Novaliches

Homily for Monday February 21 2022

Theme: Everything is possible to one who has faith
By: Fr. Mike Lagrimas

St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Diocese of Novaliches
Homily for Monday February 21 2022
Mk 9:14‐29
As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter , James and 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 it out He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”
The Gospel account today happened when Jesus was coming down from the mountain where He was transfigured before the disciples Peter, James and John. A large crowd was gathered around a boy presumed to be possessed by a mute and deaf spirit. The disciples and the scribes were arguing as to how to drive the evil spirit.
From a contemporary standpoint, we can say that the symptoms shown by the afflicted boy are clearly that of epilepsy – convulsions, loss of physical control, foaming at the mouth, being rigid like a corpse, and some other related symptoms. During those times, however, this kind of illness is not yet known, and so, it is understandable that people would see this as a kind of evil possession. Since the boy, during those epileptic attacks does not speak and would not listen to them, they presume it is a mute and deaf spirit that is possessing him.
The father of the boy gave a summary report to Jesus with a heavy heart: “I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.” At this stage, his only hope was Jesus. So, he pleaded with Him: “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” To this statement, the Lord’s response was quick: “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Of course, Jesus can do anything and everything.
Jesus is not a magician or a showman who performs to gain fame, money and power. The miracles done by the Lord were borne out of compassion for those who are needy and suffering, and in response to their faith. They must have the proper dispositions: humility, openness, purity of intention and firm faith and trust in God.
The father of the boy immediately realized how little was his faith, and so he earnestly and humbly implored Jesus: “I do believe, help my unbelief!” That was enough for the Lord. He drives out the mute and deaf spirit and the boy gets healed instantly. It is this humble and firm faith that opens the floodgates of God’s power and grace for His beloved children.
How can we develop this kind of faith? The answer is through a strong prayer life. Back in the house, the disciples asked Jesus why they could not drive out the evil spirit. And He said to them: “This kind can only come out through prayer.” In short, they were not able to drive away the evil spirit because they themselves do not have enough faith, and this is most likely due to their deficient prayer life. Perhaps they were trying to heal the boy by their own efforts, not fully relying on the power of God. Perhaps they do not have complete realization that they were just channels of God’s healing power.
Nothing is impossible with Jesus. He does not fail. But His power depends so much on our disposition of faith, humility and openness. On many healing miracles, the Lord Himself acknowledged this by saying to the healed person, “Your faith has healed you.” Indeed, faith unleashes the hand of God that does great wonders for our happiness and salvation.
A British evangelist, Smith Wigglesworth, said, “There is nothing impossible with God. All the impossibility is with us when we measure God by the limitations of our unbelief.”
Fr. Mike Lagrimas
St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Diocese of Novaliches

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