Gospel: August 8, 2026
August 8, 2026 (Saturday)
18th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 2 (White)
St. Dominic, priest
Ps 9:8-9, 10-11, 12-13
You forsake not those who seek you, O Lord.
1st Reading: Habakkuk 1: 12-2: 4
Gospel: Matthew 17:14-20
When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus, knelt before him and said, “Sir, have pity on my son, who is
an epileptic and suffers terribly. He has often fallen into the fire, and at other times into the water. I brought him to your disciples but they could not heal him.”
Jesus replied, “O you people, faithless and misled! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.” And Jesus commanded the evil spirit to leave the boy, and the boy was immediately healed.
Later, the disciples approached Jesus and asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive out the spirit?” 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 for you.
Reflection:
Faith is the courage to surrender our fears to God.
Jesus demonstrates the extraordinary power of faith, teaching His disciples that even a mustard seed of genuine belief can move mountains. This passage reminds us that no challenge is too great when we trust in God. Life often presents us with obstacles that seem insurmountable—illness, heartbreak, failures, or struggles that test the limits of our endurance. Yet, Jesus calls us to rely not on our strength but on God’s limitless power.
Faith is not the absence of fear but the courage to surrender those fears to God. It is the assurance that He walks with us through every valley and storm, transforming our trials into testimonies. When we trust Him, we access a source of divine power that turns impossibilities into opportunities for His glory.
As we navigate life’s uncertainties, let us cultivate faith like a mustard seed—small yet mighty, resilient, and deeply rooted in God’s promises. We can overcome any challenge through trust and perseverance, knowing that nothing is impossible with God.
