Monday, February 24, 2020 — seventh week of Ordinary time — Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark 9, 13-28 — Our Saviour, Christ Jesus, destroyed death; he made life shine through the Gospel.

The Gospel shows us here the victory of Jesus over evil. He delivered man from the shackles of evil.

In this case, it is the father who brings his son to Jesus to deliver him from the hold of an evil spirit. This father had already presented his son to the disciples, but they could not expel the spirit: for the disciples, it can be said that it was a failure. It is a failure that can happen to us Christians in our mission of evangelization and research for the spiritual good. Faced with such a case, it is necessary for us to go even more deeply into conversion, giving priority to the life of prayer. Having faith is the necessary condition for triumphing over evil.

 Faith is the condition imposed by Jesus on this father for his son to heal and obtain salvation. Everything is possible for the one who believes. When we have faith, God works in us and cooperates with us.

Here Jesus teaches his disciples that there are demons that can only be cast out through prayer and fasting. To triumph over evil, assiduous prayer is obligatory. Prayer is an intimate relationship with God and without Him we are powerless. Moreover, the practice of fasting is necessary to overcome evil. According to St. John Chrysostom, fasting is a force that supports us in the fight against spiritual enemies and frees us from sin.

Lord, make faith grow in us.