A reading of the holy Gospel according to Mk 9:14-29
As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John and approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.” He said to them in reply, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.” They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood. It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive the spirit out?” He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”
REFLECTION
"O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you?"
These are very true but harsh statements. All present heard them. Were the comments for the apostles or for the crowd or both?
How can we get to heaven unless there’s someone pulling, pushing, tugging and praying for us? God promises that He will take care of us. Our faith grows knowing that He says to us, “All things can be done for the one who believes. Prayer is needed.”
Will prayer get us closer to God? Oh, yes. But first we must rid ourselves of our presumptions, assumptions, judgments, and our own concerns. We must let go of fear, caution, pride, and most important, ourselves and all bad that comes with us.
Is our prayer life in the same effort column as preparing for a test, a marathon, a term paper, a wedding or any event where a perfect outcome is what we desire?
Jesus spent long hours praying before teaching and healing. All our efforts don’t amount to much if we have not invited God to be with us: To fill our satchels with all they can handle.
Pray for that intimate holy desire of faith and trust; thereby, enlarging our hearts to receive all He gives us.
“Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
(Psalm 37:4
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