Feast of St Peter Damian, OSB, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

UNTESTED FAITH LIKE AN UNTESTED SOLDIER IS UNRELIABLE.

"As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, and John and approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes ­arguing with them...... “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit........ I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.”

Jesus appeared to be annoyed when He chided the disciples and the father of the epileptic boy of lack of faith. The father of the epileptic boy answered:

”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!” (Mark 9: 22 - 24).

Monday February 21st, 2022 in the 7th Week in Ordinary Time is  the feast of St Peter Damian (1001 - 1072). Italian. Benedictine monk. Bishop and Doctor of the Church.  The monk-Cardinal whose life we celebrate today is a Reformer in the make of the great reformers of the Church:  Saints Francis of Assisi, Dominic, Ignatius Loyola, Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, etc. . Damian  urged his fellow clergy to live upright lives. Many clergy at all levels were at that time living sordid lives. But Peter pursued reforms with the heart of a pastor.

In the Gospel of today from Mark 9: 14 - 29, the father of the epileptic boy was desperate to see his son healed at all cost.
”But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

The Bible has a lot to teach about the necessity of Faith:
#1 Without faith, we cannot please God.
#2 Although man cannot live on bread alone, the just man lives by faith.
#3 This world is in a bitter and deadly conflict between good and evil. Victory must come to the side with faith.
Etc,

How do we get this precious faith?
Faith comes from hearing/reading the word of God constantly. To this, add prayer. For prayer and faith are like joined twins that can never be separated.

Your prayer must be fired by confident and expectant faith for God Himself has promised: Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will swing open for you.

"The Eucharist is transforming for all who receive Me with faith and with confident devotion, but it is especially so for My priests. It is by the reception of My Body and Blood that you will grow in My friendship and in the shining priestly holiness by which I want to be glorified in you and in all My priests." (IN SINU JESU, Thursday, January 3, 2008 The Holy Name of Jesus).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com