Gospel Reading: Mk 9:14-29
As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, and 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 it out?” He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”
REFLECTION Help my unbelief
The father of the boy possessed by a demon says this when he is confronted by Jesus. Faith is very important in combatting demons.
The Gospel is an example of a difficult case of exorcism. The devil cannot just go away from the boy. The people have asked help from the disciples who are commissioned to drive demons away, but the disciples are unable to do so. What is the problem?
They report to Jesus the unsolved case and the disciples’ inability to exorcise. Jesus realizes that the case is serious and surprisingly asks if the father of the boy has faith. The father desperately claims he has, but he, too, needs help because honestly he does not believe enough.
Jesus helps his unbelief by casting away the unclean spirit. Jesus succeeds. The disciples interview him why they were unable to do it. Jesus reiterates the importance of prayer.
Faith must be expressed in prayer. Faith becomes active when we pray and we become effective in our mission.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
