Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
(Sirach 1:1-10); Mark 9:14-29)
Before anything else, the wise person recognizes that God
exists, that He loves humans, and that He wants them to thrive. Today’s first reading adds that wisdom also
is God’s creation, and humans are among its chief beneficiaries. Using wisdom, men and women will reap significant
harvests. Jesus demonstrates the use of wisdom in the gospel.
A young boy has epileptic fits that are believed to be
caused by a demon. His disciples could
not cast out the demon despite their best efforts. Jesus, trusting in the Father who has just
revealed Himself on the mountain of the Transfiguration, addresses the demon. Being told to leave the boy, the demon goes
immediately. Jesus explains later that
it was prayer that expelled the demon so quickly.
But Jesus did not utter a word of prayer! His prayer was incorporated
in his posture of humility before God.
He will serve God with every living breath. We, his disciples, should imitate his disposition
before God. When we dedicate ourselves
to God with every breath we take, we will not find ourselves disappointed.
