Mark 9:14-29
14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them,
and some scribes arguing with them. 15When the whole crowd saw him, they
were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him.
16He asked them, ‘What are you arguing about with them?’ 17Someone from
the crowd answered him, ‘Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit
that makes him unable to speak; 18and whenever it seizes him, it dashes
him
down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked
your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.’ 19He answered
them,
‘You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much
longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.’ 20And they brought
the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the
boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.
21Jesus
asked the father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he
said, ‘From childhood. 22It has often cast him into the fire and into
the water, to
destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and
help us.’ 23Jesus said to him, ‘If you are able! All things can be done
for the one
who believes.’ 24Immediately the father of the child cried out, ‘I
believe; help my unbelief!’ 25When Jesus saw that a crowd came running
together, he
rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘You spirit that keeps this
boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never
enter
him again!’ 26After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out,
and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’
27But
Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand.
28When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why
could we not cast it out?’ 29He said to them, ‘This kind can come out
only through prayer.’Think
More often than not I feel over come by doubt especially when it comes to illness and healing and doctors and demons. My prayer echos that doubt. In this way I feel more like the father in this account of healing than the disciples. Jesus said to him, "If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes." Immediately the father fo the child cried out, " I believe; help my unbelief!" How often did I hear this prayer when I worked at the VA last summer, or some version of it, how often did I hear it while dealing with the illness of a family member. How often do I pray this prayer myself, yet it appears that nothing happens, nothing changes, illnesses last, death comes, suffering continues. And I find myself asking "Why could I not cast out that evil?" and Jesus' response to the disciples " This kind can come out only through prayer" leaves a lot to be desired. Honestly, Jesus I pray, I pray hard, and I believe, why didn't you heal the person I love, or end their suffering on my behalf, aren't I your beloved child? Or do you mean that only your prayer can save this wretched soul? If so why not pray for everyone? Why not pray for the hope of the hopeless? Do we need to be active participants to receive relief? I didn't think you worked in the qui pro quo manner.
After taking a break and letting the dog out in the snow. I must admit I am frightened of this passage- I feel like this is the reason people don't take children to the doctor and think that prayer solves all illnesses, especially epilepsy. I don't want to be able to heal people - I want medical professionals to be able to heal people, and I know the history that priests were the primary care physicians in earlier times, that priests were thought to have healing powers, but I appreciate that I don't have that expectation placed upon me. But I also wish I could do more at the same time. Is my prayer worthless? This is what this passage bubbles up in my mind. Because my prayer isn't answered for healing but death comes is my prayer void? Because my prayer for those who suffer hardship financially or socially doesn't become resolved in a year or two or three, does this mean I should stop praying? I know it doesn't but I struggle and I pray that same prayer as the father today and every day.
Pray
Dear Lord. I believe; Help me in my unbelief! Amen
Contemplate
Sitting in silence watching the snow
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