In today’s Gospel, Mk 9:
14-29, the disciples are perplexed that
they were unable to cast out an evil spirit that had possessed a boy since his
childhood, throwing him into convulsions, causing him to foam at the mouth and
at times practically tossing him into water or into fire to kill him. The boy’s
father is frantic that the disciples were of no help and says to Jesus: “If you
can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus, exasperated by the statement “If you
can,” shouts back: “What do you mean, ‘if I can’. Haven’t I been with you long
enough, haven’t you seen the work I do, that you question whether I am capable
to casting out Satan?” The man is just
as frustrated and says to Jesus, “Lord, I do believe; help my unbelief!” And
Jesus takes over the situation and commands Satan to leave and never, never
take possession of the boy again.
Many times, you and I
need to be brought that low in realizing our powerlessness, our dependency upon
the Lord, that there is nothing we can do to change a horrible situation, a
situation out of our control. Until we recognize this, we are likely to keep
trying things that do not work. Stripped
bare, we fall on our knees and beg God to help us. God never refuses those who
believe that God is God and there is no other.
“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be
glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything
I My name, I will do it” (Jn 14: 13-14).
Who am I in this Gospel story:
the man who is interceding for his son? The son who is out of control of his
life? The disciples who are unable to make a difference in this situation? Whoever
I am, what is God asking of me?
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