Suy
Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai Thứ 7 Tuần Thường Niên
Khi không có Chúa,
thỉ chẳng có việc gi mà các môn đệ làm cho ra hồn, những gì họ làm
đều không được như ý muốn. Trong trường hợp như trong bài Tin mừng hôm nay, các
môn đã cố gắng hết sức mà không thể trừ được thần ô uế ra khỏi một em bé vì
thiếu lòng tin và họ cũng thiếu cả sự cầu nguyện. Kết quả là, họ đã bị Chúa
Giêsu quở trách họ, cũng như quỏ trách tất cả các kinh sư, những người Pharisêu
và những người có mặt vì họ thiếu lòng tin.
Nhưng ngược lại với các môn đệ, Lúc ban đầu người cha của cậu bé đứng đấy cũng không có lòng tin và còn nghi ngờ cà sức mạnh của Chúa Giêsu. Chúa Giêsu lên tiếng mạnh dạn nhắc nhở ông ta rằng đức tin không có giới hạn nơi sức mạnh của Thiên Chúa. Người đàn ông này đã lớn tiếng kêu xin và thừa nhận sự thiếu đức tin của mình và xin Chúa tăng thêm lòng tin cho ông ta và cầu xin Chúa Giêsu giúp đỡ. Như vậy, Chúa Giêsu, đã chữa lành các đứa bé, là nhờ sự tuyên xưng đức tin của người cha .
Nếu không có sự hiện của Chúa Giêsu, cũng như các môn đệ, chúng ta cũng đành bất lực. Tuy nhiên, ngay cả trong những khoảnh khắc tuyệt vọng nhất, Chúa Giêsu củng luọng mời gọi chúng ta, các môn đệ của Ngài nên đi thêm một bước xa hơn và cầu nguyện như cha của cậu bé "con tin! Xin thêm sức mạnh cho lòng tin yếu kém của chúng con! " Bằng cách này, Chúa Giêsu nhắc nhở chúng ta ngày hôm nay là bất cứ điều gì chúng ta cũng có thể làm được nếu chúng ta có sự tin tưởng vào nơi Ngài và tin tưởng vững mạnh sâu sắc trong lời cầu nguyện. Vì vậy, chúng ta phải tìm đến với sự hiệp nhất với Chúa Giêsu trong sự cầu nguyện nếu chúng ta muốn được Ngài chia sẻ quyền lực của Ngài và có một phần trong công việc của Ngài cho chúng ta.
Lạy Chúa Giêsu, xin giúp lòng tin yếu đuối của chúng con, và xin chúa ban thêm sức mạnh cho lòng tin và sự tin tưởng của chúng con trong ssức mạnh cứu rỗi của Chúa. Xin hãy cho chúng con ơn biết tự tin và sự kiên trì, đặc biệt là trong lời cầu nguyện. Và giúp chúng con biết mang tình yêu, sự tha thứ và chân lý của Chúa đến với những người mà chúng con gặp"
When Jesus is absent, it is as though nothing goes right for the disciples. In this instance, they are unable to expel an evil spirit. The disciples were unable to expel the demon because of the lack of belief and their lack of prayerfulness. As a result, Jesus rebukes them, as well as the scribes and Pharisees and the people for their lack of faith.
In contrast to the disciples, stands the father of the boy. Initially, this man too lacked faith and had doubted the power of Jesus. Jesus strongly reminds him that faith does not put limits to the power of God. In response, the man cries out and acknowledges his lack of faith and looks to Jesus for help. As such, although it is Jesus who heals the boy, it is the father's profession of faith that Mark holds up for the readers to imitate.
Without Jesus, like the disciples, we too are helpless. However, even in the most desperate moments, Jesus invites us, his followers to go one step further and pray like the boy’s father “I do believe! Help my unbelief!” In this way, Jesus reminds us today that anything is possible to one who trusts in him and trust is deepened in prayer. Therefore, we must seek to find union with Jesus in prayer if we are to share in his power and have part in his work. “Lord, help my unbelief!”
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. Mark 9:14
This line, from the beginning of today’s Gospel, reveals a transition from an experience of incredible glory to one that is very sad. On the mountain, Jesus was transfigured before three of His disciples, and a small glimpse of His divine essence was revealed to them. The three disciples were overwhelmed with joy and amazement. But as they came down the mountain, they immediately encountered an argument between the scribes and the people.
The argument had to do with a man who brought his son to Jesus’ disciples for healing. The boy had been possessed by a mute and deaf spirit from childhood, and the disciples were unable to cast the demon out. What’s more, the scribes appear to be critical of the whole situation, and the father appears to lack faith. Jesus’ response to them all was, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.” After the boy was brought to Jesus, Jesus did two things for the boy. First, He commanded the demon to “come out of him.” Second, He told the demon to “never enter him again.”
Though there is much we can learn from this passage, it’s worth pondering this twofold command of Jesus. Certainly, to set the boy free from the possession of this demon was significant and life-changing. But this act of mercy would have ultimately ended in tragedy if the demon were to reenter the boy after Jesus left. Therefore, the second command, forbidding the demon to ever enter him again, is also an act of great mercy.
One thing this should teach us is that overcoming evil is not enough. This is because the temptations and oppressions that come from the legion of fallen angels are continuous and relentless. It often happens that once a person finds freedom from some diabolical influence and from some sin, they later fall back into that sin as they become lax. Therefore, we must always remember that once we overcome some sin, temptation or oppression, we must perpetually remain vigilant so that we do not fall back into these evils. Ongoing vigilance is essential if we are to remain firmly grounded on the road to virtue and holiness.
Reflect, today, upon any temptation you have endured and overcome, only to later fall into it again. Reflect, especially, upon the importance of the vigilance that is necessary so as to not only refrain from returning to your former sins but to also move forward in holiness and virtue. The evil one never relents, but God is even more relentless in His compassion and grace. Keep moving forward in the spiritual life so that you never slip and fall back into previous sin.
Most glorious Lord, I turn to You in confidence and beg that You not only free me from the sins with which I struggle, but that You also keep me from ever turning back to them once I am free. May I always move forward toward You and never become lax in my journey of faith. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, grant me a deeper faith vision that recognizes your salvific presence in the world.
1. Signs of the Kingdom: How often we look for signs in our life, but perhaps we look for signs for the wrong reasons. We want signs about which job to take, a sign that our loved one is in heaven, or that we made a good choice in life. But do we look for the sign of God’s presence manifested in a deeper conversion of heart or in an increase of faith, hope, and love? A life that turns from sin and seeks to live virtue is a sign of God’s Kingdom present in our lives and in the world. When Jesus began his public ministry he preached repentance and the coming of the Kingdom. Then he began to heal many people. He manifested signs of his divine identity and the purpose for his coming. He came to break the dominion of Satan and restore the Kingdom of God. Healings are a manifestation of that restoration that he desires to work in the hearts of all people. That healing can be worked instantaneously as we see him do in the Gospels. But for most of us, it happe ns progressively through an ongoing process of conversion. The Lord is always active in a heart open to grace, whether we perceive it or not.
2. Disbelief in Action: Jesus revealed his frustration over the disciple's lack of faith. Perhaps they put too much trust in their own power, rather than in the power of Jesus. Or perhaps they sought vainglory instead of turning people back to the Lord. Their disbelief was more than a lack of intellectual assent. They fell short of recognizing the source of all healing–God. In my life, all the good that I do, any of the healing and restoration I experience, results from God acting through grace in my soul. All glory to God!
3. Prayer and Fasting: Jesus said that the kind of demons his apostles were dealing with could be expelled only through prayer. Prayer is faith in action. When we pray, we are telling God that we believe he is there and that he is important enough for me to seek out. We appeal to the only one who can truly transform us. Prayer requires a tremendous act of faith. And faith is a theological virtue that unites us directly to God, the source of life and healing. The deepest healing is the salvation that comes through the grace Jesus offers us as we turn away from Satan’s dominion and enter God’s Kingdom. This requires purification–leaving ourselves behind. Fasting can play a role here. Some translations of Mark 9:29 mention Jesus saying that some demons can only come out through fasting. Fasting helps us form the habit of turning away from obstacles that prevent our union with God. When I want to see healing and/or interior transformation in myself or others, Our Lord may be asking me for prayer and fasting.
Conversing with Christ: Jesus, I believe that you alone can heal my deepest wounds. Help me to turn from all that does not make me a daughter or son of your Kingdom.
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