February 24, 2014

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: 14-29 

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.”
9:29	And setting out from there, they passed through Galilee. And he intended that no one know about it.