February 21, 2022

Reading

The Letter of Saint James   3: 13-18

3:13 Who is wise and well-taught among you? Let him show, by means of good conversation, his work in the meekness of wisdom.
3:14 But if you hold a bitter zeal, and if there is contention in your hearts, then do not boast and do not be liars against the truth.
3:15 For this is not wisdom, descending from above, but rather it is earthly, beastly, and diabolical.
3:16 For wherever envy and contention is, there too is inconstancy and every depraved work.
3:17 But within the wisdom that is from above, certainly, chastity is first, and next peacefulness, meekness, openness, consenting to what is good, a plenitude of mercy and good fruits, not judging, without falseness.
3:18 And so the fruit of justice is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According of Mark  9: 13-28

9:13 And approaching his disciples, he saw a great crowd surrounding them, and the scribes were arguing with them.
9:14 And soon all the people, seeing Jesus, were astonished and struck with fear, and hurrying to him, they greeted him.
9:15 And he questioned them, “What are you arguing about among yourselves?”
9:16 And one from the crowd responded by saying: “Teacher, I have brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit.
9:17 And whenever it takes hold of him, it throws him down, and he foams and gnashes with his teeth, and he becomes unconscious. And I asked your disciples to cast him out, and they could not.”
9:18 And answering them, he said: “O unbelieving generation, how long must I be with you? How long shall I endure you? Bring him to me.”
9:19 And they brought him. And when he had seen him, immediately the spirit disturbed him. And having been thrown to the ground, he rolled around foaming.
9:20 And he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” But he said: “From infancy.
9:21 And often it casts him into fire or into water, in order to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, help us and take pity on us.”
9:22 But Jesus said to him, “If you are able to believe: all things are possible to one who believes.”
9:23 And immediately the father of the boy, crying out with tears, said: “I do believe, Lord. Help my unbelief.”
9:24 And when Jesus saw the crowd rushing together, he admonished the unclean spirit, saying to him, “Deaf and mute spirit, I command you, leave him; and do not enter into him anymore.”
9:25 And crying out, and convulsing him greatly, he departed from him. And he became like one who is dead, so much so that many said, “He is dead.”
9:26 But Jesus, taking him by the hand, lifted him up. And he arose.
9:27 And when he had entered into the house, his disciples questioned him privately, “Why were we unable to cast him out?”
9:28 And he said to them, “This kind is able to be expelled by nothing other than prayer and fasting.”