Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: August 9, 2025

Date: Saturday of the 18^th Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:  Matthew 17:14-20

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." Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him, and from that hour the boy was cured.

Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said, "Why could we not drive it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, 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."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today recounts Jesus’ exorcising a demon from a man’s suffering son. When the disciples ask Jesus why they themselves could not do the exorcism, Jesus told them they lacked the necessary faith.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

How strong is my faith? Really?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, we praise You and we thank You for this day and for all our days, and for your love, most especially your love for us that led to You sending your only begotten Son to us as not only our brother, sharing in our humanity in all ways but sin, but also as our redeemer.

LORD, Jesus Christ, we lift our voices to You in thanksgiving for your life shed selflessly for our salvation and redemption. We ask that You send the Spirit to help us fully answer your call to discipleship, to deny ourselves, to pick up our own crosses and to follow You.

Most Holy Spirit, we lift our hearts and voices to You in thanksgiving for your constant guidance and your gifts and fruits share with us. Grant that we may use these in service to our Savior, Jesus Christ, for the glory of the Father Almighty. Amen.