A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 17:14-20)
A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said, “Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely; often he falls into fire, and often into water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.” Jesus said in reply, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him, and from that hour the boy was cured.
Jesus demonstrates to the father and son his power to heal where the disciples failed. Jesus, who has complete faith in the strength of his Father, cures the boy immediately. His disciples ask him why they could not drive out the demon, and he tells them: “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” What might seem a swift dismissal of the disciples is instead Jesus’ invitation into that same relationship of faith with Our Father in heaven.
God, help me understand the significance of the Gospel as it relates to this day. Give me strength to accomplish your will, and help me turn to you for my needs. Along with hope and love, faith is one of the three theological virtues infused by you, and I ask to exercise that today with you beside me. As Jesus did with his faith in you, as your adopted son show me how to turn to you always to strengthen my relationship with you and receive your grace.
From the responsorial psalm: “I love you, O LORD, my strength, O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.