Homily: February 24, 2025, Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time (Faith)

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 “Everything is possible to one who has faith.”

There’s a story about a small town which endured a severe drought for many years. The whole town had not seen a drop of rain in years. Finally, in desperation, the townspeople asked their priest to lead a day of prayer for rain. On the appointed day, everyone gathered in the town square to pray. Hundreds of people came, but only one man brought an umbrella.

We pray and we plead with God, but do we have faith in our prayer? Or do we not have faith in God?

Jesus lamented in today’s Gospel text, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you?” 

We can feel Jesus’ frustration, disappointment, and sadness. His disciples could not cast out a demonic spirit because they lacked faith, they lacked prayer, they were not connected with God.

“He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”” So, the disciples did not pray, they did not call on the Lord’s name, they acted independently.

In the Gospel story, it wasn’t the disciples who showed faith, it was the father of the possessed boy. He believed Jesus could free his son, and so Jesus did.

This same Jesus is with us now, physically, sacramentally, and spiritually, in the Most Holy Eucharist. 

He wants to cast out all the demons in our life that separate us from God, would you allow Him to do that?

Do you believe what Jesus said, that “Everything is possible to one who has faith.”

Do we pray in Jesus’ name and believe that He will free us?

Let us stand firm in our faith and proclaim with confidence: “In the name of Jesus, evil has no place in my life.”

May our faith be strong, never waiver in times of trouble, and never fail in times of trial. To God be all glory. 

Amen.


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