A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Apostle and Evangelist Saint Matthew (Mt 17:14-23).
"As soon as we returned to the crowd, a man approached Jesus who, on his knees, said: Lord, have mercy on my son. He is epileptic and suffers much; it falls often in the fire and often also in the water; I have already brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him». And Jesus answered: «O incredulous and perverse generation! How long will I stay with you? How long must I endure you? Bring him here». And Jesus spoke to him menacingly, and the devil came out of him, and from that moment the boy was healed.
Then the disciples, approaching Jesus on the side, asked him: «Why we could not drive him away?». And he answered: For your little faith. Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a little grain of mustard, ye shall say to this mount: Move from here to there, and it shall move, and nothing shall be impossible unto you. [This race of demons is not cast out except by prayer and fasting]».
While they were together in Galilee, Jesus said to them: «The Son of man is about to be delivered into the hands of men and they will kill him, but on the third day he will rise again». And they were very sad."
Reflection.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today the Word of God guides us through two profoundly significant readings: the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 4:9-16) and the gospel passage that we have heard. These texts speak to us of faith, sacrifice and the call to live our Christian witness with courage. To enrich our reflection, I would also like to share with you the story of St Andrew Stratelate and his 2,593 soldiers, martyrs in Cilicia, who offer us a shining example of faith and courage.
Saint Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, speaks of the suffering and humiliation that often accompany the journey of Christ’s disciples. "We have become a spectacle for the world, for angels and men" (1 Cor 4:9), says Paul, showing how the apostles were seen as the most despised, the last in the eyes of the world. Paul invites us to understand that the true apostolate does not seek human glory but accepts hardship and sacrifice as part of the vocation to follow Christ.
St Andrew Stratelate and his soldiers, who chose death rather than renouncing their faith, fully embody this spirit. They did not seek earthly success but offered their lives as a testimony of their faith in Christ. Their history reminds us that true Christian greatness is not measured by the standards of the world, but by the ability to remain faithful to God even in the most difficult moments.
In this context, it is also appropriate to reflect on the Dormition of Mary, which represents the first fruit of the resurrection. The Holy Mother Church, in fact, connects significantly the feast of the Transfiguration with the Dormition. Mary is the Woman wrapped in glory not only because she became All Holy at the moment of the Annunciation, but also as described in the Apocalypse of Saint John. The Transfiguration, which we have recently celebrated, is the portal that introduces us to the completion of our theosis, the union with God. Mary, the new Eve, bore in her womb the fruit of every blessing. In Christ, the new Adam, every man who receives baptism begins to taste the fullness of this fruit, which gives us eternal life, the fulfillment of the theosis.
While Adam ate the fruit forbidden by God at a time inappropriate for our growth, deceived by the lies of Satan, who promised a false theosis saying: "Eat, O Eve, and you will be like God", the fruit nourished by the Tree of the womb of All Holy Mary gives us instead the nectar of eternity. The human heart, like a well, fills with the living water of Christ, transforming the desert of humanity into a paradise, as Psalm 23 reports: "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me rest in green pastures". Christ, the Shepherd of souls, gives us fresh pastures, and through Mary, the mystery of eternal life becomes present, for it is through her that the Saviour of the world entered into our history, bringing to completion God’s plan for our salvation.
St Ambrose reminds us that "the apostles, with their labours and sufferings, show us all the way of virtue" (De officiis I, 16, 60). This is the path that Saint Andrew and his soldiers have walked with courage and determination, offering their lives for the love of Christ.
Today’s Gospel presents us with a powerful and hopeful episode. A desperate father brings his demon-possessed son to the disciples, but they fail to heal him. Jesus, with words that reveal his deep compassion and a certain disappointment, drives out the demon and then explains to the disciples that their failure is due to "little faith" (Mt 17:20).
But Jesus does not stop there. He offers us a message of hope: even a faith as small as a grain of mustard can move mountains. This means that our faith, though fragile, if placed entirely in the hands of God, can accomplish the impossible.
The story of Saint Andrew Stratelate and his soldiers teaches us exactly this. In the face of death, they were not paralyzed by fear, but found strength in that faith which, though human and fragile, was full of trust in God. Their death was not in vain, but became the seed of eternal life, a testament to the power of faith and Christian hope.
Saint Gregory the Great encourages us to understand that "faith is like a seed which, if planted in the human heart and nourished, can grow to overcome every obstacle" (Dialogues IV, 31). This is the message that Jesus offers us today: no matter how weak or insecure we feel, if we put our trust in Him, nothing will be impossible.
Dear brothers and sisters, today’s readings, together with the story of Saint Andrew Stratelate and the contemplation of the Dormition of Mary, offer us a message of deep hope. We are called to live our faith with courage, knowing that even when we feel weak or inadequate, God can work wonders through us. The true strength does not lie in the visible greatness of our faith, but in its sincerity and our willingness to entrust ourselves completely to God.
Like St Andrew and his soldiers, we can face the challenges of life with the certainty that if we remain faithful to Christ, He will sustain us and lead us to victory, despite our difficulties. The cross we carry is not a sign of failure, but of participation in the glorious resurrection of Christ.
Today, let us renew our commitment to live with faith, courage and hope, knowing that the Lord is always with us, and that with Him even mountains can be moved.
Amen.
May the Lord Almighty always bless you!
Archpriest Michele Alberto Del Duca.
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