February 21
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intentions
7:45 AM – Alfred J. Cicci / Albert & Joann Paparo
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
James 3:13-18
Beloved:
Who among you is wise and understanding?
Let him show his works by a good life
in the humility that comes from wisdom.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts,
do not boast and be false to the truth.
Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above
but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,
there is disorder and every foul practice.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
for those who cultivate peace.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 15
R. (9a) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Gospel Acclamation
See 2 Timothy 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mark 9:14-29
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.”
“The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.”
Reflection
Ever present again in this epistle…St. James’ theme that our lives (our words and our actions) must reflect humility and genuine faith in our hearts. Things like jealousy, selfish ambition, and boasting is “earthly,” and they have no place in authentic Christian discipleship. Living out this “wisdom,” this wisdom that we know points us to the victory of the Cross, wisdom that is uniquely of divine origin involves purity, gentleness, peacefulness, and mercy.
To our world and our contemporary culture this kind of wisdom is often perceived as weakness, but in reality anyone who has ever encountered someone who genuinely abides in this wisdom has encountered a tremendously strong individual. Not even suffering of the worst kinds can crush the soul who is helped by God’s grace to live always trusting in the wisdom of this relationship.
The passage from Mark’s Gospel today has a very helpful prayer for anyone struggling to persevere in/with God’s wisdom. Placing ourselves in the shoes of the father who has brought his son to Jesus for healing, we can surely resonate with his heart. He probably has felt helpless searching for answers, for strength, for healing, since his son has been plagued since childhood. Now he has found Jesus…and to me, the father’s response when Jesus sheds light on his inner doubt is so pure: “I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.” He desires this miracle, but has probably endured dead end after dead end after dead end. He wants to believe Jesus can provide, and in the same moment there is recognition that only with grace could one have such confidence.
I’m grateful to this father’s prayer. Keeping these words or any number of variations of it can certainly be a path for grace to expand our hearts in moments of doubt or despair: “I believe, Lord, help my unbelief”… “I trust you Lord, help me to trust you more” … “I love you, Lord, help me to love you more”…
Keep his words close in prayer.
Peace,
Fr. Foley
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