>> A READING FROM THE LETTER OF SAINT JAMES. BELOVED: WHO AMONG YOU IS WISE AND UNDERSTANDING? LET HIM SHOW HIS WORKS BY A GOOD LIFE IN THE HUMILITY THAT COMES FROM WISDOM. BUT IF YOU HAVE BITTER JEALOUSY AND SELFISH AMBITION IN YOUR HEARTS, DO NOT BOAST AND BE FALSE TO THE TRUTH. WISDOM OF THIS KIND DOES NOT COME DOWN FROM ABOVE BUT IS EARTHLY, UNSPIRITUAL, DEMONIC. FOR WHERE JEALOUSY AND SELFISH AMBITION EXIST, THERE IS DISORDER AND EVERY FOUL PRACTICE. BUT THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE IS FIRST OF ALL PURE, THEN PEACEABLE, GENTLE, COMPLIANT, FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS, WITHOUT INCONSTANCY OR INSINCERITY. AND THE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS SOWN IN PEACE FOR THOSE WHO CULTIVATE PEACE. THE WORD OF THE LORD. >> THANKS BE TO GOD. >> THE PRECEPTS OF THE LORD GIVE JOY TO THE HEART. >> THE PRECEPTS OF THE LORD GIVE JOY TO THE HEART. >> THE LAW OF THE LORD IS PERFECT, REFRESHING THE SOUL; THE DECREE OF THE LORD IS TRUSTWORTHY, GIVING WISDOM TO THE SIMPLE. >> THE PRECEPTS OF THE LORD GIVE JOY TO THE HEART. >> THE PRECEPTS OF THE LORD ARE RIGHT, REJOICING THE HEART; THE COMMAND OF THE LORD IS CLEAR, ENLIGHTENING THE EYE. >> THE PRECEPTS OF THE LORD GIVE JOY TO THE HEART. >> THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS PURE, ENDURING FOREVER; THE ORDINANCES OF THE LORD ARE TRUE, ALL OF THEM JUST. >> THE PRECEPTS OF THE LORD GIVE JOY TO THE HEART. >> LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE THOUGHT OF MY HEART FIND FAVOR BEFORE YOU, O LORD, MY ROCK AND MY REDEEMER. >> THE PRECEPTS OF THE LORD GIVE JOY TO THE HEART. (ORGAN) >> ♪ ALLELUIA ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST HAS DESTROYED DEATH AND BROUGHT LIFE TO LIGHT THROUGH THE GOSPEL ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ DOMINUS VOBISCUM ♪ >> ♪ ET CUM SPIRITU TUO ♪ >> ♪ LECTIO SANCTI EVANGELII SECUNDUM MARCUM ♪ >> ♪ GLORIA TIBI, DOMINE ♪ >> 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 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. >> ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ LAUS TIBI, CHRISTE ♪ >> THE HEALING AND DELIVERANCE OF THIS BOY POSSESSED BY A DEMON WAS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LORD'S TRANSFIGURATION. GOD FROM GOD, LIGHT FROM LIGHT, TRUE GOD FROM TRUE GOD, AS WE PROCLAIM IN THE CREED EACH SUNDAY COMES INTO CONTACT WITH DARKNESS, DISTORTION AND EVIL. THE GOSPEL GIVES US A GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION OF WHAT EVIL CAN DO TO HUMAN PERSON. IT IS NOT A VERY GLAMOROUS DEPICTION. MOST OF US WILL NEVER SEE THIS TYPE OF EVIL IN OUR LIFE OR EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF DIABOLICAL POSSESSION. THE ENEMY MIGHT BE AT WORK, CRIPPLING THE WORLD, BUT OUR LORD IS MORE AT WORK BRINGING ABOUT HEALING, RESTORATION AND BRINGING GOOD EVEN OUT OF THE DEVILS DISASTERS. HE BRINGS GOOD. EVEN OUT OF EVIL THAT IS COMMITTED. SOMEHOW ONLY GOD CAN DO THIS. CAN BRING ABOUT RESTORATION. EVEN OUT OF DISASTER. PRAYER IS AT THE CENTER OF TODAY'S GOSPEL. PRAYER FLOWING FROM THE MOUNTAIN OF TRANSFIGURATION. PRAYER IS FAITH IN ACTION. THIS TEACHING IS GIVEN CENTERED AROUND THE MIRACULOUS HEALING OF THE YOUNG BOY AFFLICTED WITH A DEMON WHO MADE HIM DEAF AND MUTE. THE FATHER THE BOY BRINGS HIS SON INTO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO JESUS. THE BOYS FATHER HAD PROBABLY TRIED EVERYTHING IMAGINABLE TO BRING ABOUT HEALING IN HIS SON'S LIFE. JUST LIKE ANY GOOD FATHER. ANYTHING IMAGINABLE THIS BOY WOULD'VE GONE THROUGH. HE ADDRESSES THE LORD JESUS DIRECTLY, TEACHER I HAVE BROUGHT TO YOU MY SON POSSESSED BY A MUTE SPIRIT. WHENEVER IT SEIZES HIM IT THROWS HIM DOWN, HE FOAMS AT THE MOUTH, GRINDS HIS TEETH AND BECOMES RIGID. I ASK YOUR DISCIPLES TO DRIVE IT OUT BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO SO. IT WAS FAITH THAT MOVED THIS FATHER TO BRING HIS SON TO THE ONE THAT ONLY COULD DELIVER HIM. THE DISCIPLES OF THE LORD WERE HELPLESS AGAINST THIS DEMON. AT THE FATHER'S PLEA, THE DISCIPLES WERE UNABLE TO CAST THE DEMON OUT. JESUS'S RESPONSE, O FAITHLESS GENERATION HOW LONG WILL I BE WITH YOU? HOW LONG WILL I ENDURE YOU. BRING HIM TO ME. BRING HIM TO ME. THAT IS WHAT THE LORD SAYS TO EACH 1 OF US BRING HIM TO ME. WHOEVER IT MAY BE. MAYBE IT IS YOURSELF. BUT MAYBE IT IS SOMEBODY IN YOUR LIFE. THEY YOU ARE CLOSE TO. BRING HIM BRING HER TO ME. ULTIMATELY THE LORD IS URGING THE FATHER TO HAVE COMPLETE TRUST AND SURRENDER. COMPLETE ABANDONMENT. CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN HIM THAT THE LORD CAN BRING US THROUGH ALL TRIALS. WHO DOESN'T STRUGGLE WITH SURRENDER QUESTION MARK WHO DOES NOT STRUGGLE WITH TRUST? THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO BEG AND ASKED THE LORD CONTINUALLY IN OUR LIVES TO INCREASE OUR TRUST. TO INCREASE THOSE VIRTUES THAT HE INFUSES INTO US AT BAPTISM. FAITH HOPE AND CHARITY. ST. BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS SAID JESUS GIVES ALL TO THOSE WHO SURRENDER ALL. I MENTIONED ST. BERNADETTE BECAUSE IN THE CONTEXT OF HER LIFE, AND ALL OF THE APPARITIONS, THAT THE LORD THAT OUR LADY APPEARED TO HER AND GAVE HER MESSAGES THIS MONTH IN FEBRUARY WE CELEBRATE ALL OF THOSE APPARITIONS THAT ARE LADY CAME TO HER. JESUS GIVES ALL, ALL, TO THOSE WHO SURRENDER ALL. ARE WE WILLING TO SURRENDER ALL? WHAT ARE WE HOLDING ONTO? CONCERNING TRUST, ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI SAID HE WHO TRUSTS HIMSELF IS LOST. HE WHO TRUSTS IN GOD CAN DO ALL THINGS. HE WHO TRUSTS HIMSELF IS LOST. BUT HE WHO TRUSTS IN GOD CAN DO ALL THINGS. WITH GOD. THE FATHER AND THE DISCIPLES BRING THIS MAN'S SON INTO CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH THE LORD. WITH THE DIVINE POSITION. DIVINE PHYSICIAN WHAT HAPPENS? THE SPIRIT IMMEDIATELY THROUGH THE BOY INTO CONVULSIONS. HAVE WE EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS? MOST OF US HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. SOMEBODY BEING TRULY DELIVERED FROM A DEMONIC SPIRIT. AS HE FELL TO THE GROUND, HE BEGAN TO ROLL AROUND AND FOAM AT THE MOUTH. LIKE A GOOD DOCTOR WHO WANTS TO BRING HEALING TO HIS PATIENT, THE LORD JESUS ASKED THE FATHER THIS QUESTION. HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN HAPPENING TO HIM? WE HAVE 2 YOUNG MEN HERE SERVING, THE FATHER IS A DOCTOR, THEY ARE USED TO THEIR FATHER AND MOTHER ASKING WHEN THEY ARE SICK, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN FEELING THIS WAY? ANY GOOD DOCTOR WILL ASK THEIR PATIENT HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON? THE DOCTOR NEEDS TO HAVE A GOOD IDEA ABOUT HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING. IF THIS AILMENT IS GOING TO BE HEALED, THAT NEEDS TO BE TRANSPARENCY. THERE NEEDS TO BE A REVEALING OF THE SYMPTOMS AND THEIR EFFECTS. WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE WITH YOUR SON? PUT EVERYTHING OUT ON THE LINE. TELL ME. HIS FATHER LAYS IT ALL BEFORE THE LORD. SINCE CHILDHOOD. THE MAN SAYS. IT IS OFTEN THROWN HIM INTO THE FIRE AND INTO WATER TO KILL HIM. BUT IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING, HAVE COMPASSION ON US AND HELP US. BUT IF YOU CAN. THAT IS WHAT THE MAN SIGHED FROM HIS HEART. BUT IF YOU CAN. BECAUSE THIS MAN REALIZES THAT HE CANNOT. I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING. BUT IF YOU CAN, PLEASE BRING US COMPASSION. PLEASE HAVE COMPASSION ON US AND HELP US. OF COURSE HE CAN. HE IS GOD THE SON. HE IS THE DIVINE PHYSICIAN GOD THE FATHER SENT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO BRING ABOUT HEALING AND RESTORATION AND HOPE. REDEMPTION. THE LORD JESUS RESPONSE TO THE MAN WAS TO IGNITE HIS FAITH. JESUS DIRECTED IT BACK TO THIS DESPERATE FATHER. IF YOU CAN! GO BACK AND READ THE TEXT FROM TODAY'S SCRIPTURES. JESUS DIRECTS IT BACK TO HIM. THIS MAN SAYS TO JESUS, IF YOU CAN. OF COURSE JESUS CAN. BUT JESUS DIRECTS IT BACK TO THIS MAN, IF YOU CAN! HE WANTS TO HAVE OUR COOPERATION. JESUS SAYS EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE TO ONE WHO HAS FAITH. THE LORD TURNS HIS GAZE ON US AND ASKS FOR OUR COOPERATION. IN THIS HEALING EVENT OF THE LORD. THIS FATHER'S FAITH AND COMPLETE TRUST AND SURRENDER TO THE LORD BRINGS ABOUT THE REMEDY. BRINGS ABOUT THE HEALING. JESUS IGNITING FAITH WITHIN THIS MAN. HOLDING IT OUT. SOMETIMES IT MAY BE FEELING LIKE PULLING TEETH WHICH IS NEVER PLEASANT. BUT THE LORD IGNITES IT AND HE WANTS TO PULL OUT WITHIN US FAITH GREATER FAITH. GREATER TRUST. GREATER LOVE. THE POSSESSED BOY'S FATHER CRIED OUT, THIS WAS HIS CRY OF FAITH, I DO BELIEVE HELP MY UNBELIEF. I DO BELIEVE HELP MY UNBELIEF. THIS IS A PROFOUND ACT OF FAITH THAT WE CAN TAKE ALSO. EACH 1 OF US IN OUR DAILY LIVES. I DO BELIEVE MY UNBELIEF. IN WHATEVER SITUATION WE MAY FIND OURSELVES IN. MAYBE YOU ARE IN PRISON WATCHING AND YOU FEEL FORGOTTEN AND ABANDONED. I DO BELIEVE, HELP MY UNBELIEF. A REAL LIFE SITUATION LAST NIGHT A FATHER CALLED ME AND HIS SON HAD OVERDOSED YESTERDAY AND IS IN THE ICU. I DO BELIEVE. HELP MY UNBELIEF. I DO BELIEVE. I DO BELIEVE. I BRING THIS BOY I BRING WHOEVER THIS MAY BE TO YOU LORD. I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE DIVINE POSITION WHO CAN HEAL HIM. FAITH NOT ONLY MOVES US CLOSER TO THE LORD BUT TRUE FAITH MOVES THE LORD CLOSER TO US. PRAYER MOVES THE LORD CLOSER TO US. IT PUTS US INTO CONSCIOUS CONTACT WITH GOD WHO CARES ABOUT US. WHO CARES ABOUT OUR NEEDS. THE GOD WHO DESIRES TO BE CLOSE TO HIS CREATION. TO HIS SON AND TO HIS DAUGHTER. PRAY ABOUT THIS AS LENT APPROACHES NEXT WEEK. FAITH NOT ONLY MOVES US CLOSER TO THE LORD, BUT FAITH AND PRAYER DRAW GOD CLOSER TO US. JUST LIKE IN THIS GOSPEL ACCOUNT. FAITH BRINGS THE LORD CLOSE TO US. VERY OFTEN WE THINK IN OUR PRAYER THAT WE DRAW CLOSE TO THE LORD AND THIS IS TRUE WHEN WE PRAY AND WE COME BEFORE THE LORD, BUT THE OTHER DYNAMIC IS 1ST OF ALL HAPPENING. GOD DRAWS CLOSER TO HIS SON, TO HIS DAUGHTER, IN PRAYER. HE DRAWS CLOSE TO YOU. BECAUSE HE CARES ABOUT YOU. AND HE DOES NOT ABANDON YOU.
