GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 20TH FEBRUARY 2017
MONDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
FIRST READING: Sirach 1:1-10
PSALM: Psalm 93:1-2, 5
GOSPEL: Mark 9:14-29
THEME: FAITH IN GOD
Life is like a mathematical equation with a variable (e.g. 2x+ 5=6x-3). It often appears complex but once you get the variable right, it all makes sense. Faith in God is the x -variable in the equation of life.
A man brought a big problem to Jesus. It concerned his son who was manifesting symptoms that looked very much like epilepsy. He narrated the ordeal his son was undergoing to Jesus, “…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” (Mk. 9:22). In response, Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). The father cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mk. 9:24). Jesus then proceeded to heal his son.
Facing difficult obstacles in life can be demoralizing, but thanks be to God, there is a way out of every problem. Faith paves the way out of difficult situations. Faith is not a magic wand that makes mountains vanish but it unleashes divine power that enables us to deal effectively with difficult situations. It creates possibilities where there seems to be no possibility.
Faith grows when we pray. There is something called “Prayer-investment”. It is the act of continually and constantly engaging oneself in the practice of prayer. Like any investment, in a face of a challenge, you can always fall on it for survival. Asked by his disciples why they were unable to cast out the evil spirit and heal the boy, Jesus said, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer” (Mk. 9:29).
As followers of Christ, “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2Cor. 5:17), so whenever fear knocks at your door, let faith answer with the voice of prayer and you would find out that there is no one at the door – fear would run away.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus I believe that with you nothing is impossible. As I place my faith in you today, may my night turn to day. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).