7th Week in Ordinary Time : Monday 24th February 2020

James wrote about true wisdom. The evidence of wisdom was shown by the way the people lived. Good works were to be done with gentleness.

Genuine wisdom would be the result of the fruits of the Holy Spirit as the lives of the Christians would be pure, peaceable, merciful, impartial and without hypocrisy.

The evidence of genuine wisdom rooted in the teachings of Christ would be in the good works of the people. This way of living differed significantly from the society of that time and still does today in our time. Does my life bear evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit? Or do I conform to the culture of the day?

In the story of the healing of the boy with a convulsive spirit, Jesus showed his divine power. The disciples were unable to heal the boy, so his father pleaded with Jesus to heal him.

The theme here is faith. In response to the father’s query “if you are able”, Jesus replied that all things were possible for a believer. The father of the child has left us all with his public statement, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Who among us has not said that at one time or another?

On hearing this exclamation, Jesus healed the boy. Later, when he was alone with his disciples, Jesus told them that it was through prayer that the boy was healed.

Lord, deepen my faith and help my unbelief.