Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection February 24, 2025

24th February 2025 (Monday)

Psalter: Week 3

Readings of the Day

First Reading: Sirach 1:1-10

All wisdom comes from the LORD and with him it remains forever, and is before all time The sand of the seashore, the drops of rain, the days of eternity: who can number these? Heaven’s height, earth’s breadth, the depths of the abyss: who can explore these? Before all things else wisdom was created; and prudent understanding, from eternity. The word of God on high is the fountain of wisdom and her ways are everlasting. To whom has wisdom’s root been revealed? Who knows her subtleties? To whom has the discipline of wisdom been revealed? And who has understood the multiplicity of her ways? There is but one, wise and truly awe-inspiring, seated upon his throne: There is but one, Most High all-powerful creator-king and truly awe-inspiring one, seated upon his throne and he is the God of dominion. It is the LORD; he created her through the Holy Spirit, has seen her and taken note of her. He has poured her forth upon all his works, upon every living thing according to his bounty; he has lavished her upon his friends.

Psalm 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5 (R. 1a)

R/. The Lord is King; he is robed in majesty.

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.

R/. Alleluia.

Gospel: Mark 9:14-29

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. Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.” He said to them in reply, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.” They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood. It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive the spirit out?” He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

Daily Gospel Reflection

Monday – 7th Week in Ordinary Time

Main Point: The world of today bothers so much to develop intelligence and knowledge. But it miserably lacks and fails in wisdom. It does not realise that wisdom is the most important need

In the gospel, we have a very vivid description of a boy possessed by an unclean spirit. It makes him deaf and mute. It seizes him violently and often throws him down, rolling around. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. Often throws him into fire and water to kill him.

This exactly represents our present society. It is a society that is possessed by unclean spirits. The signs and effects are quite obvious. Many have an unclean spirit. They are so polluted and corrupted.

Many are deaf and mute. They cannot hear God and good. They do not pay attention at all. They have neither the time nor the heart to listen to others. They are mute. They do not speak God and good. They do not raise their voice to stand for justice or to offer comfort to others.

These possessed people are violent. They emit foam and fury. They grind their teeth in hatred and retaliation. They are so rigid and hard-hearted. They throw themselves down, roll around and make a mess of things. They create scenes and fear in others. Often these become self-ruinous and ruin others as well.

Therefore, the world needs healing. And as we are God’s chosen people, the world may turn to us for healing before they approach the Lord. It is sad that often we too fail just as the disciples failed to drive out the unclean spirit.

When asked, Jesus plainly tells them that the failure to heal is due to the lack of prayer. Matthew adds in 17.21 “fasting” too to prayer. Therefore, it is clear that it is only prayer that can drive out the demon. Prayer is surrender to God in faith,

Perhaps this is what the disciples lacked and so they failed. They trusted in themselves. Perhaps they were complacent. They forget that their power is not their own. It is derived from the Lord and is delegated by him. Therefore, their power works only when they depend on their Lord.

Perhaps they were also tempted toward self-glory. They wanted to display their power before the people. They wanted to make an impression on the people about their greatness. In this process, they fail to pray and seek their power from the Lord.

In this context, the first reading suggests to us that we need wisdom. Yes, that wisdom that comes from the Lord, which is eternal, prudent understanding, and discerning and which springs from the fountain of the word of God, is needed to seek our power and light from the Lord on the ground of prayer.

My Practice: As gifted with God’s power and engaged actively in His mission, we may be in the limelight and popular. But let us always bear in mind that if left to us, we will fail. Let us then never be self-seeking