Wisdom 1:11, Psalm 9:8-13, Matthew 17:14-20

Wisdom 1:11

11 Beware then, of empty com­plaints and keep your tongue from faultfinding, since your most secret word will have consequences; a lying tongue brings death to the soul.

Thank You Lord for this timely reminder for You know that in the silence of my heart, where none but You see and hear, I have been fault finding and complaining. Give me O my Beloved Your sweetness of spirit.

Psalm 9:8-13

8 But the Lord reigns forever, having set up his throne for judgment.

9 He will judge the nations with justice and govern the peoples in right­eousness.

10 The Lord is a rampart for the oppressed, a refuge in times of distress.

11 Those who cherish your name, O Lord, can rely on you, for you have never forsaken those who look to you.

12 Sing praises to the Lord enthroned in Zion, proclaim his deeds among the nations.

13 For he who avenges blood remembers, he does not ignore the cry of the lowly.

A time will come when all people and all nations have to account for their deeds before You O Righteous Judge.

Matthew 17:14-20

• 14 When they met the people, a man approached Jesus, knelt before him and said, 15 “Sir, have pity on my son who is an epileptic and is in a wretched state. He has often fallen into the fire and at other times into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples but they could not heal him.”

17 Jesus replied, “You, faithless and evil peo­ple! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus commanded the evil spirit to leave the boy, and the boy was immediately healed.

19 The disciples then gathered around Jesus and asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive out the spirit?” 20 Jesus said to them, “Because you have little faith. I say to you: if only you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could tell that mountain to move from here to there, and the moun­tain would obey. Nothing would be impossible to you. 

Every parent ought to kneel humbly before You and plead for the salvation of their children for we live in a world where evil is waiting to ensnare them.  Thank You for assuring us that we can overcome evil by praying with faith.