Reflecting on my life ever since I got to know the Lord, I realized that prayer has become like a bandage for me, that I use to cover up my wound. Sometimes, I use it too as a magic wand. I pray hoping for an instant miracle to happen, then things will become less undesirable.
Prayer is faith. Praying is believing in the one true God. Praying is not a magic wand that transforms people and situation into what you desire them to be. Praying is abandoning our whole self to God and letting him be God. After all he is the one who’s got the powers, not us. He’s the one who is in control, not us.
Reading 1, James 3:13-18
13 Anyone who is wise or understanding among you should from a good life give evidence of deeds done in the gentleness of wisdom.
14 But if at heart you have the bitterness of jealousy, or selfish ambition, do not be boastful or hide the truth with lies;
16 Wherever there are jealousy and ambition, there are also disharmony and wickedness of every kind;
17 whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something pure; it is also peaceable, kindly and considerate; it is full of mercy and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it.
18 The peace sown by peacemakers brings a harvest of justice.
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 15
8 The precepts of Yahweh are honest, joy for the heart; the commandment of Yahweh is pure, light for the eyes.
9 The fear of Yahweh is pure, lasting for ever; the judgements of Yahweh are true, upright, every one,
10 more desirable than gold, even than the finest gold; his words are sweeter than honey, that drips from the comb.
Gospel, Mark 9:14-29
14 As they were rejoining the disciples they saw a large crowd round them and somescribes arguing with them.
15 At once, when they saw him, the whole crowd were struck with amazement and ran to greet him.
16 And he asked them, 'What are you arguing about with them?'
17 A man answered him from the crowd, 'Master, I have brought my son to you; there is aspirit of dumbness in him,
18 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.'
19 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.'
20 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.
21 Jesus asked the father, 'How long has this been happening to him?' 'From childhood,' he said,
22 'and it has often thrown him into fire and into water, in order to destroy him.
23 But if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.'
24 '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!'
25 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.'
26 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.'
28 When he had gone indoors, his disciples asked him when they were by themselves, 'Why were we unable to drive it out?'
29 He answered, 'This is the kind that can be driven out only by prayer.'
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