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| “Jesus Casts our Unclean Spirit” by Gustave Doré, 1865 |
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: James 3:13-18
Beloved:
Who among you is wise and understanding?
Let him show his works by a good life
in the humility that comes from wisdom.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish
ambition in your hearts,
do not boast and be false to the truth.
Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above
but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,
there is disorder and every foul practice.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
for those who cultivate peace.
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Commentary on Jas 3:13-18
St. James takes up the topic of “true wisdom” in the same way he had treated the role of teacher in the previous section. The qualities of Christian wisdom are cited (see also Galatians 5:22-23), and contrasted with secular wisdom (see also 2 Corinthians 12:20). Christian wisdom, says the Apostle, flows from the peace of Christ. The works of the wise will be clearly seen, because they are opposed to those of the secular world, which James says are “earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” We note the emphasis on works rather than words. This Christian wisdom is not evidenced in preaching but in actions.
CCC: Jas 3:18-19 632
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15
R. (9a) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the Lord is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the Lord are true,
all of them just.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
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Commentary on Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15
Psalm 19 is a song of praise. It rejoices in the laws and precepts set down by God and asks the Lord to find favor in those who follow them. This part of Psalm 19 is a formulaic profession of faith. It begins with the Law of God, then the rules based upon the Law, and finally on faith in God. Essentially this litany says if you follow God’s law in all its fullness, salvation is yours.
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Gospel: Mark 9:14-29
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.”
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Commentary on Mk 9:14-29
In this selection from St. Mark’s Gospel, the Lord encounters a “situation.” When he comes down from the mountain where Peter, James, and John had just witnessed the transfiguration of the Lord, he discovers the rest of the disciples being challenged by scribes and Pharisees because they cannot cast out a “mute spirit.”
Jesus’ reaction seems a bit exasperated. He remarks on the faithlessness of the crowd (including the scribes and Pharisees) and proceeds to cure the boy. He then explains to the disciples (possibly chastising them as well) that in such cases, cure can only be effected through prayer. In some texts “fasting” is added to this account.
"In teaching the Apostles how to expel a spirit as evil as this He is teaching all of us how we should live, and telling us that prayer is the resource we should use to overcome even the severest temptations, whether they come from unclean spirits or from men. Prayer does not consist only in the words we use to invoke God's clemency but also in everything we do, out of faith, as homage to God. The Apostle bears witness to this when he says: `Pray constantly' (1 Thessalonians 5:17)" (St. Bede, "In Marci Evangelium Expositio, in loc."). [4]
CCC: Mk 9:9-31 649; Mk 9:23 1504, 2610; Mk 9:24 162
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Reflection:
We reflect today on the contrast between good and evil, the world of the flesh and the world of the spirit. We have both natures, and there is a constant battle raging silently within us. It is like the constant struggle of our immune system with the bacteria and viruses in our environment. We do not see or hear that struggle as the body’s defenses war against those diseases that try to infect us, but that war rages.
It turns out that the analogy of the war between the immune system and disease is a good one to use as we look at the battle between flesh and spirit. When the body’s immune system is healthy, good health is generally a result of a few things. First, our parents passed on antibodies to us when we were born. These natural defenses protected us from many of the common illnesses as we grew up. To help the body’s natural defenses, we were inoculated against some of the most dangerous infections: polio, measles, and smallpox, to mention a few. We also needed boosters on some of these so we would stay protected. In addition to all of this immunity, we check in with physicians regularly to make sure something more sinister has not managed to get past our immune system and take root. The physician we consult may recommend general instructions about life style and diet to bolster our natural immunity and make us feel better, in addition to checking for these maladies.
In spite of all this, there are times when we get sick and need strong medicine to help us control the effects of the illness. We may even need antibiotics to help kill the organisms invading the body. Between the body’s immune system, the vaccines that help it against specific diseases, and physicians who keep an eye on things and prescribe stronger medicine when we do get sick, most of us stand a pretty good chance of living long and healthy lives.
Let’s look at that battle now as one between sin and death vs. righteousness and life. The natural immunity given by our parents is the basic instruction we receive though the domestic church about right and wrong, good and bad as we grow up. This knowledge, obtained and reinforced through discipline and example, protects us from many basic ills. They are assisted and we are inoculated with our first “shots” through the sacrament of baptism (that’s a big one). Later as we grow we are given a booster (confirmation) and along the way periodic checkups (reconciliation). As any parent knows, proper diet and exercise are necessary, so we receive the Eucharist and are taught to pray, along with other disciplines of the faith.
Just as the body fights disease, the spirit, strengthened by faith and sacrament fights against the evil the world sends. Ironically, like disease, these attacks generally come through the mouth, eyes and ears. But, with God’s help, most are defeated. Still as we go through life we are susceptible to these attacks and must not neglect diet, exercise and good medicine (Sacred Scripture, prayer, and sacramental grace) to keep us healthy. Our semi-annual checkups (call them physicals or “spirituals” in this instance) during Lent and Advent help us make sure nothing sinister and undetected has managed to get started.
This is obviously rich ground to explore but for today it is enough that we recognize this silent battle that rages within us and are careful to maintain the lifestyle that keeps us safe. If that is neglected in the physical part of our analogy the result is the body dies. In a spiritual sense, if we die, it is eternal, a death we do not even wish to contemplate.
Pax
[1] The picture used is “Jesus Casts our Unclean Spirit” by Gustave Doré, 1865.
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
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