Catholic Daily Reading 24 February 2020
Daily Reading for Monday February 24, 2020
Reading 1, James 3:13-18
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 15
Gospel, Mark 9:14-29
Reading 1, James 3:13-18
13 Anyone who is wise or understanding among you should from a good life give evidence of deeds done in the gentleness of wisdom.
14 But if at heart you have the bitterness of jealousy, or selfish ambition, do not be boastful or hide the truth with lies;
15 this is not the wisdom that comes from above, but earthly, human and devilish.
16 Wherever there are jealousy and ambition, there are also disharmony and wickedness of every kind;
17 whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something pure; it is also peaceable, kindly and considerate; it is full of mercy and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it.
18 The peace sown by peacemakers brings a harvest of justice.
Catholic Daily Reading 24 February 2020
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 15
8 The precepts of Yahweh are honest, joy for the heart; the commandment of Yahweh is pure, light for the eyes.
9 The fear of Yahweh is pure, lasting for ever; the judgements of Yahweh are true, upright, every one,
10 more desirable than gold, even than the finest gold; his words are sweeter than honey, that drips from the comb.
Gospel, Mark 9:14-29
14 As they were rejoining the disciples they saw a large crowd round them and some scribes arguing with them.
15 At once, when they saw him, the whole crowd were struck with amazement and ran to greet him.
16 And he asked them, ‘What are you arguing about with them?’
17 A man answered him from the crowd, ‘Master, I have brought my son to you; there is a spirit of dumbness in him,
18 and when it takes hold of him it throws him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and goes rigid. And I asked your disciples to drive it out and they were unable to.’
19 In reply he said to them, ‘Faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.’
20 They brought the boy to him, and at once the spirit of dumbness threw the boy into convulsions, and he fell to the ground and lay writhing there, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ ‘From childhood,’ he said,
22 ‘and it has often thrown him into fire and into water, in order to destroy him.
23 But if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.’
24 ‘If you can?’ retorted Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who has faith.’ At once the father of the boy cried out, ‘I have faith. Help my lack of faith!’
25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd was gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit. ‘Deaf and dumb spirit,’ he said, ‘I command you: come out of him and never enter him again.’
26 Then it threw the boy into violent convulsions and came out shouting, and the boy lay there so like a corpse that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him up, and he was able to stand.
28 When he had gone indoors, his disciples asked him when they were by themselves, ‘Why were we unable to drive it out?’
29 He answered, ‘This is the kind that can be driven out only by prayer.’
Read Today’s Daily Devotional Below;
Topic; ‘Our Wake-up Calls’
Scripture: O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me. – Mark 9:19
Message: The most important things in life do not come to us immediately. We need time to open our hearts to the gifts of love, faith and hope so that they may slowly but surely lead us to a new way of living. Jesus apparently succumbed to occasional fits of exasperation when those who heard his words simply did not know what to do with them or make of them. How slow they were to experience in themselves the love he had for them–to take his words to heart. But he always countered his exasperating moments with teaching by example: praying, healing, encouraging and loving. We are called to share these same gifts with each other. We should not lose heart when we experience a wake-up call from God. It is a call that most often will come through people who love us and who see in us what we cannot see ourselves.