PRAYERFUL PREPARATION
Mark 9:14-29 speaks of the cure of the epileptic demoniac. Jesus disciples were not able to cure him the Lord cured him. “His disciples asked him privately. ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ He said to them this kind can come out only through fasting and prayer.”
The disciples were inefficient because they lacked the wisdom of prayerful preparation. If we too don’t pray we shall be inefficient in spite of all wisdom. Before and after his teaching and healing activities, Jesus prayed for a significant amount of time. We can’t possibly expect to act differently. Let’s cultivate the habit of prayer before and after work. If we are not prayerfully prepared we may be defeated in the battles of life.
We may be expert in our various professions. But without prayer and the help of God we cannot attain salvation. Therefore, we all have need for prayer. We need God’s grace to be able to finish our course.
There are certain deep-rooted bad habits that will not be eradicated without fasting and prayer. When we pray we must work to ensure we are completely set free from such habits.
Lastly, the first reading says all wisdom is from the Lord, it is he who created her. Let us ask the Lord to give us the wisdom to overcome the demonic forces in our days.
LET US PRAY
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, always pondering spiritual things, we may carry out in both word and deed that which is pleasing to you. Amen
Ecclesiasticus 1:1-10; Psalm 92; Mark 9:14-29
Father Daniel
