May 19, Monday Weekday

The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.-- Psalm 19:9

Mass readings: James 3:13-18 / Mark 9:14-29

Possibilities

I suffered several ear infections each year until I was 25. That year, during a retreat, I asked a priest to pray with me for healing. I was disappointed nothing happened. A few days later, however, the pain disappeared and I've been earache free since. When I told the priest my story, he said, ''People are always willing to give medicine time to work. Why not Jesus?''

Look how long it took Jesus to heal the mute boy in today's Gospel: Jesus first asks what's going on, then rebukes the faithless, questions the father, and admonishes the father to believe. Once the father professes his belief, Jesus commands the unclean spirit to leave. Not exactly instantaneous. Perhaps He had more than one healing in mind that day: the boy's, the father's, the crowd's, the disciples' -- even ours.

Prayer: O Lord, grant that we might believe ''everything ispossible to one who has faith.''