CHRISTIAN MORNING MEDITATION:Lectio Divina: Mark 9:14-29Lectio DivinaMonday, February 24, 2020Ordinary Time1) Opening prayerFather,keep before us the wisdom and loveyou have revealed in your Son.Help us to be like himin word and deed,for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever. Amen.2) Gospel Reading – Mark 9:14-29As they were rejoining the disciples they saw a large crowd round them and some scribes arguing with them.At once, when they saw him, the whole crowd were struck with amazement and ran to greet him. And he asked them, ‘What are you arguing about with them?’ A man answered him from the crowd, ‘Master, I have brought my son to you; there is a spirit of dumbness in him, and when it takes hold of him it throws him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and goes rigid. And I asked your disciples to drive it out and they were unable to.’ In reply he said to them, ‘Faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you?How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.’ They brought the boy to him, and at once the spirit of dumbness threw the boy into convulsions, and he fell to the ground and lay writhing there, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ ‘From childhood,’ he said, ‘and it has often thrown him into fire and into water, in order to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.’ ‘If you can?’ retorted Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who has faith.’ At once the father of the boy cried out, ‘I have faith. Help my lack of faith!’And when Jesus saw that a crowd was gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit. ‘Deaf and dumb spirit,’ he said, ‘I command you: come out of him and never enter him again.’ Then it threw the boy into violent convulsions and came out shouting, and the boy lay there so like a corpse that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him up, and he was able to stand.When he had gone indoors, his disciples asked him when they were by themselves, ‘Why were we unable to drive it out?’ He answered, ‘This is the kind that can be driven out only by prayer.’3) Reflection• The Gospel today informs us that the disciples of Jesus were not able to cast out the devil from the body of a boy. The power of evil was greater than their capacity. Today, also, there are many evils which surpass our capacity to face them: violence, drugs, war, sickness, jobless people, terrorism, etc. We make great efforts in life, but it seems that instead of improving, the world becomes worse. What good is there in struggling? Keeping this question in mind, let us read and meditate on today’s Gospel.• Mark 9, 14-22: The situation of the people: despair without solution. Coming down from the mountain of the Transfiguration, Jesus met many people around the disciples. A parent was in despair, because an evil spirit had taken possession of his son. With great detail, Mark describes the situation of the possessed boy, the anguish of the father, the incapacity of the disciples and the reaction of Jesus. Two things strike us in a particular way: on one side, the confusion and the powerlessness of the people and of the disciples in the face of the phenomenon of possession, and on the other hand, the power of faith in Jesus before which the devil loses all his influence. The father had asked the disciples to drive out the devil from the boy, but they were not able to do it. Jesus becomes impatient and says: “Faithless generation! How much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me”. Jesus asks information regarding the sickness of the boy. And from the response of the father, Jesus knows that the boy, “from childhood”, was affected by a serious illness which endangered his life. The father asked: “But if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us!” The phrase of the father expresses a very real situation of the people: (a) they are faithless; (b) they are not in a condition to solve the problem, but (c) have such good will.• Mark 9, 23-27: The answer of Jesus: the way of faith. The father answers: Lord, I believe! But help my lack of faith! The response of the father has the central place in this episode. It indicates that this should be the attitude of the disciple, that, in spite of his/her limitations and doubts, he/she wants to be faithful. Seeing that many people were coming, Jesus acted rapidly. He ordered the spirit to get out of the boy and not to return “again ever!” This is a sign of the power of Jesus on evil. It is also a sign that Jesus did not want any popular propaganda.• Mark 9, 28-29: Deepening this with the disciples. In the house, the disciples want to know why they were not able to drive out the devil. Jesus answers: This is the kind of evil spirit that can be driven out only by prayer! Faith and prayer go together. One does not exist without the other. The disciples had become worse. Before they were capable of driving out the devil (cfr. Mk 6, 7.13). Now, no more. What is lacking? Faith or prayer? Why is it lacking? These are questions which come from the text and enter into our head in a way that we can proceed also to a kind of revision of our life.• The expulsion of the devils in the Gospel of Mark. During the time of Jesus many persons spoke of Satan and of the expulsion of the devils. People were afraid and, there were some persons who profited and took advantage of the fear of the people. The power of evil had many names: Demon, Devil, Beelzebul, Prince of Demons, Satan, Dragon, Domination, Power, Beast-wild animal, Lucifer, etc. (cfr. Mk 3, 22-23; Mt 4, 1; Rv 12, 9; Rm 8, 38;; Eph 1, 21). Today also, among us the power of evil has many names. It is enough to consult the dictionary and look for the word Devil or Demon. Today, also, many dishonest people enrich themselves, profiting of the fear which people have of the devil. Now, one of the objectives of the Good News of Jesus is, precisely, to help people to free themselves from this fear. The coming of the Kingdom of God means the coming of a stronger power. The strong man was an image which indicated the power of evil which maintained people imprisoned by fear (Mk 3, 27). The power of fear oppresses persons and makes them lose themselves. He does in such a way that they live in fear and death (cfr. Mk 5, 2). It is such a strong power that nobody can stop it (Mk 5, 4). The Roman Empire with its “Legion” (cfr. Mk 5, 9), that is, with its armies, was the instrument used to maintain this situation of oppression. But Jesus is the strongest man who overcomes, seizes and drives out the power of evil! In the Letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul gives a list of all the possible powers or demons which could threaten us and he summarizes everything in this way: “I am certain of this: neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nothing already in existence and nothing still to come, nor any power, nor the heights nor the depths, nor any created thing whatever, will be able to come between us and the love of God, known to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord!” (Rm 8, 38-39). Nothing of all this! And the first words of Jesus after the Resurrection are: “Do not be afraid! Rejoice! Do not fear! Peace be with you!” (Mk 16, 6; Mt 28, 9-10; Lk 24, 36; Jn 20, 21).4) Personal questions• Have you ever lived an experience of powerlessness before some evil or violence? Was this an experience for you only or also for the community? How did you overcome it?• Which is the type of evil today which can only be overcome with much prayer?5) Concluding PrayerThe precepts of Yahweh are honest,joy for the heart;the commandment of Yahweh is pure,light for the eyes. (Ps 19,8)stswithuns.org.uk/newsletter-NL_24022020 … See MoreSee Less

4 hours ago

… See MoreSee Less

1 day ago

CHRISTIAN MORNING MEDITATION:“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well.” Matthew 5:38-39At the time of the Old Testament, the introduction of the concept of “an eye for an eye” was seen as great progress in regard to civil peace. This is because it was very common for vengeance to take the form of going beyond the crime committed. For example, if one family stole an animal, the victim’s family may have retaliated by killing the whole flock of the family who did the stealing. This only led to constant fighting and unrest among tribes and communities.Therefore, when this law was introduced within the law of Israel, it brought a certain peace. Justice could be served, but once equal justice was dealt, the vengeance had to be considered over.But Jesus comes along and takes this practice to a whole new level. He takes the idea of “strict justice” and transforms it into mercy and forgiveness. By stating, “When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well,” Jesus is introducing the new concept of forgiveness rather than equal justice. Does He literally mean that we should turn and offer the other cheek? Well, that is what He said so it makes sense to accept this teaching on face value. But we’d miss the point if we got caught up in the question of this one action. What Jesus is truly trying to get across is that mercy and forgiveness must become the new law that governs our lives. So what if someone steals from you? Ought you demand that they pay you back? Though you may have a legal right to do so, it may be even better to confront that person, in love, and let them know they are forgiven. Yes, that may be hard, but it is the mercy and forgiveness of which Jesus is speaking.Mercy and forgiveness can, at times, appear to be contrary to justice and common sense. But it’s not. It’s a higher law calling us to a much greater level of true justice. This law can only be understood when we see the sacredness and dignity of every person, including the sinner and the criminal. We should not allow them to continue their criminal behavior, but we do administer the highest justice of God when we forgive and offer mercy.Reflect, today, upon this very challenging thought. God’s justice is, first and foremost, accomplished by His mercy. If you can understand that and live it, you will see great things happen in your life and in the lives of those you forgive.Lord, help me to forgive. Help me to offer mercy as a remedy for the injustice I face in life. May I heed Your words and follow the perfect example You set while on the Cross when You prayed, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” Help me, Lord, to imitate Your love and forgiveness. Jesus, I trust in You.stswithuns.org.uk/newsletter-NL_23022020 … See MoreSee Less

1 day ago