8.08.14

Lectio:   Mt 17.14-20                                                                                             

Meditatio: "Then the apostles approached him [Jesus] in private and said, ‘Why could we not drive it out?’ He said, ‘Because of your little faith’.” Mt 17.19.20a 
                                                                
Oratio: O God, You gave great powers to Your Son’s apostles for the benefit of the people.

I remember, however,  that on one occasion they were not able to drive out a demon from a possessed boy; and when they asked Jesus, ‘Why?’ He told them because of their little  faith. In prayer seek a strong faith, a faith that benefits all and not just self, which the apostles had not yet learned but would learn from Jesus death for all and through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
       
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what
God is saying to you.


Operatio: reflect "why...not drive it out"; the apostles at this time of their discipleship were still very much self-centered and that is why their faith was little - a strong faith is one that reaches out to others for the other’s good and not for what one gets out it - it is a faith like a mustard seed which grows and provides nests for the birds of the air.

Tomorrow's reading: Mt 14.22-33