Bible reading: August 8th : First Reading A Reading from the book of Habakkuk 1:12–2:4 Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? You make mankind like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler. He brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is glad. Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich. Is he then to keep on emptying his net and mercilessly killing nations for ever? I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.” The Word of the Lord. August 8th : Responsorial Psalm Psalm 9:8–9, 10–11, 12–13 (R. 11b) Response : You will not forsake those who seek you, O Lord. But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has set up his throne for judgment. He will judge the world with justice; he will govern the peoples with equity. R.: You will not forsake those who seek you, O Lord. For the oppressed, the Lord will be a stronghold, a stronghold in times of distress. Those who know your name will trust you; you will not forsake those who seek you, O Lord. R.: You will not forsake those who seek you, O Lord. Sing Psalms to the Lord who dwells in Sion. Tell his mighty works among the peoples, for the Avenger of Blood has remembered them, has not forgotten the cry of the poor. R.: You will not forsake those who seek you, O Lord. Alleluia V. Alleluia. R. Alleluia. V. Our Saviour Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. R. Alleluia. August 8th : Gospel A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St.Matthew 17:14–20 At that time: A man came up to Jesus and, kneeling before him, said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” The Gospel of the Lord. ___________ Today's Gospel Reflection: A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said, “Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely; often he falls into fire, and often into water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.” Jesus said in reply, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring the boy here to me.” Matthew 17:14–17 Before this encounter, Jesus had sent His disciples out two by two to preach, heal, and cast out demons in His name, preparing the way for His own visits. They returned amazed at how the power of God had worked through them. They preached with authority, commanded demons, and healed the sick. In today’s Gospel, a man brings his demon-afflicted son to these same disciples for help, but this time they are unable to heal him. Jesus had gone up the mountain with Peter, James, and John where the three apostles witnessed His Transfiguration, while the other nine remained below. As Jesus returns, He is approached by a desperate father who kneels in reverence and pleads for mercy. The boy is described in Greek as selēniazetai, “moonstruck,” often translated “lunatic,” but more accurately referring to epileptic-like seizures. The word reflects the ancient belief that the moon could influence behavior. However, in this case, the Gospel makes clear the cause is demonic. The violence of the boy’s symptoms—falling into fire and water—underscores the destructive aim of the evil one: to harm and destroy what God has made good. Jesus’ response is striking: “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you?” This is a divine lament. His sorrow is not directed solely at the disciples but at the broader spiritual blindness of the people. Though the disciples had previously cast out demons, something had gone wrong this time. Jesus’ words reveal the disciples’ lack of spiritual depth and persevering faith. His frustration flows from love and a longing for His people to grow into the faith they are called to live. Still, Jesus does not withhold His power. He commands, “Bring the boy here to me,” and with a word, rebukes the demon. The child is cured instantly. What the disciples could not do by their own strength, Jesus accomplishes with ease. He alone delivers from evil, and He does so with divine compassion. Later, when the disciples ask why they failed, Jesus tells them it was “because of your little faith”—that is, a lack of true trust in God working through them. He then offers a powerful truth: “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Do you long to cast out demons or heal the sick? Such charisms are not given to all, but every disciple is called to move mountains through faith. This is no magical power by which you can enact your own will. Moving mountains means cooperating with the will of God by bringing about His plan on earth as in Heaven. God always wills what is good, and He accomplishes it through those whose faith is strong enough to unite their hearts to His. The key is detachment from our will, unwavering trust in Him, and a love that seeks only His glory. Reflect today on the quality and depth of your faith. Do you trust more in God’s power than in your own efforts? Are you willing to surrender your desires so His will may be done through you? Even a mustard seed of humble, trusting, selfless faith can accomplish what seems impossible when it is united to the God for whom nothing is impossible. He wills to do great things through each one of us, if we but let Him. Pray for the faith that moves mountains, for when we see mountains move by allowing God to use us, we will be amazed and humble before His greatness. God all-powerful, You desire to do great things through us—to move mountains and remove every obstacle to grace—so that Your most glorious and perfect will may be fulfilled. I pray for this depth of faith, so that through me, You may touch many lives and draw me into Your glorious and eternal Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You. #Bible reading