Nothing Of Your Own Merit
Gospel Reflection - Monday, February 24th
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.”
— Mark 3:22-30
The Word of God for today emphasizes the power of faith in helping us accomplish even those things which seem impossible. There’s a caveat, though: this faith, the one that moves mountains, requires utmost humility and a complete submission to God as the one who ultimately decides.
Humility does not consist in belittling ourselves, but it’s more akin to looking at ourselves with full realism, so we can see both the potential in us as well as our sins, vices, and misery. When we begin to see ourselves through the lens of humility —both in our potential and virtue, and our misery—, we turn our gaze away from us and towards God: He’s the one who made us, aids in our pursuit of virtue, and strengthens us in our battle against sin.
To defeat the temptation of prideful boasting, we must remember that nothing we do or are is of our own merit, but a grace from God.
When we submit our hopes to Him, and if they align with His will for us, ven those things that might seem unattainable become possible, as there’s nothing that God cannot accomplish. But we have to ask with a humble faith, not in a demanding fashion, but understanding our place in the grand scheme of things.
Pray today that God gives your the faith and humility to see yourself with a healthy realism and that your will aligns with His.
Thank you for reading, and God bless you!
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