February 20, 2017 Monday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time-A

Sirach 1:1-10

Psalm 93

Mark 9:14-29

“I do believe, help my unbelief.”  Mark 9:24

Lord, this is such an honest and humble plea for help from a father desperate for his son’s life.  I can hear agony in his words after years of sharing in his son’s suffering.   I’m sure your Father shared in yours too.  This cry for help can be my prayer too.  I try to put myself in this father’s place.  He had faith in you and knew of your works.  He must have also had some element of doubt.  Sounds familiar.  Lord, this encounter with you gives me hope that you reward even imperfect faith.  You understand that the road to you is long and full of potholes.  In your wisdom, you understand our human weaknesses.  I know, dear Jesus, that you hear my every prayer.  So today, I lift up to you a very difficult situation in my life. It cries out for your touch.  Enter into my heart and build up my confidence and hope for healing.  Remove doubt and fear from wherever it exists.  You told the man that “everything is possible to one who has faith”.  My Lord, “I believe, help my unbelief.”  Amen.