Today’s first reading is the beginning of the Book of Sirach. Here the Lord is praised as the source and preserver of all wisdom, graciously sharing this wisdom with His people. In the Gospel, a boy who suffers violent seizures is brought by his desperate father to Jesus after the disciples have failed to heal the boy. Jesus rids the boy of his ailment and uses the event to emphasize the importance of prayer and faith. 

As someone who can overestimate his own role in the grand scheme of things, I find the passage from Sirach to be a humbling reminder forcing me to confront my own ignorance and arrogance. Reflecting on my mistakes and uncertainties, these verses challenge me to embrace my shortcomings and to accept the limits of what I can control and understand. I find myself thinking how often my personal failures stem from my inability to see beyond my own narrow perspective. In that realization, there is an invitation to humility and growth, a call to seek genuine transcendent wisdom.

 I often forget that the disciples were actively engaged in ministry even in times when Jesus was physically present. Still, in today’s Gospel, when faced with a concrete challenge, their power seems insufficient. This moment is strangely consoling for me. If even the disciples could falter, it helps me realize that spiritual growth is a gradual, imperfect process. Their failure reminds me that development in prayer and faith is an ongoing journey. I, too, am often not where I wish to be in terms of trust and prayer.

What also strikes me in this Gospel passage is the father’s honest cry, "I do believe, help my unbelief!" The last month has been particularly upsetting for me. As I wrestle with uncertainty in the world and in my own life, and I am consoled knowing that Jesus does not dismiss the father’s “mixed” faith but instead responds with compassion and healing. This moment encourages me to bring my own doubts and struggles to God, trusting that my incomplete faith is still enough for God to work in my life.

My prayer today is an expression of gratitude for God’s acceptance of me.

Dear Lord, Thank You for accepting me in all my flaws and imperfections. Help me live in a way that honors Your grace. Open my heart to Your love, and grant me the desire to always know and follow Your ways.