anything but prayer

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Sirach 1:1-10 Psalm 93:1-2, 5 Mark 9:14-29

Mark 9:29  And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer."

Jesus gave the Apostles the authority to cast out demons.  Why couldn't they do this one?  Well, according to Jesus this one can only come out by prayer.  That means that once again we see that we have our limits.  Even when Jesus personally gives us power and authority we must not presume to be able to do anything.  We must always humbly understand that everything comes from God and without his blessing we can't do anything.

Prayer is asking.  Sometimes for us that is the toughest thing to do, to ask.  It is a sign of our weakness, but it is to our benefit to understand it.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to always ask and to understand that whatever blessing I have are from you.

Amen