For daily readings, see http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/051908.shtml
When we are in the presence of Jesus, evil loses its power over us, just as the evil spirit lost its power over the boy in today's Gospel. Have we not experienced this many times over, my brothers and sisters? How much harder is it for us to think evil thoughts, to turn our minds to the bitter jealousy and selfish ambition that St. James discourages in today's first reading, when we are in the presence of Jesus. His presence comes to us in so many ways whenever we are open to the promptings of the Spirit, but of course, His presence is full and unique in the Blessed Sacrament, which we are privileged to be able to adore and even more privileged to receive once again this evening. Reception of the Eucharist completes the sacrament of reconciliation. The sacrament of reconciliation, while casting out evil in its own right by the calling down of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of our sins, also predisposes to realize the power of the Eucharist to cast out evil from our lives in an even more powerful way, since through the Eucharist Jesus is most fully present to us - body and blood, soul and divinity. As we learn from today's Gospel, the more Jesus is present, the less power that evil has.
It is the powerlessness over certain kinds of evil experienced by the disciples, and by us, that should drive us to return to Jesus in the Eucharist for the strength that we need to continue the battle. All of us suffer from some sin that we worry will prove fatal in our lives - that sin that we have confessed a thousand times over and plan on confessing a thousand times more in the hope that the sin will not overcome us. Rather than turning to despair in the face of such persistent sins, however, today's Gospel urges us to turn to prayer instead, and of course, to continue calling upon Jesus who alone has won the definitive victory over evil. It is because Jesus has such ultimate power, given to Him by His Father, that He can say with confidence that everything is possible for the one who has faith. Looking only a few days, or months or years ahead, many things do seem impossible to us - will I ever be virtuous? Will I ever be holy? Will I ever know God's will exactly? All of these questions unaided by faith seem impossible. Faith, however, turn us to the contemplation of Jesus and His promises, and sees in the completion of the paschal mystery that Jesus has indeed given us everything that He received from the Father, and what is more, He has given us everything we could ever desire or hope for by going to prepare a place for us in the kingdom of heaven. With the perspective of faith, which is the assurance of things that we hope for, and evidence of things we cannot yet see, all things are possible for us, for all things await in heaven for those who persevere with Jesus in faith, hope and love. Let us strengthen one another, then, in the battle against evil, by helping each other to know Jesus truly in the Holy Eucharist that we now share together. Lord, we do believe! Help our unbelief! +m
No comments:
Post a Comment