Theme: Let us overcome the evil of unbelief by humility, prayer and fasting.
Scripture readings: Jas. 3:13-18; Ps. 18:8-10, 15; Mk. 9:14-19
We find today’s Gospel, Jesus faced yet another situation in which all seemed to be lacking faith. The scribes who have been quarreling with Jesus over the issue of exorcism (Mk. 3:22). They are now arguing with Jesus’ disciples. They are questing the power of Jesus. There is another group of unbelievers i.e. disciples. They are not able to drive out demon although Jesus had given them power to cast out demons. They were successful in their mission (Mk. 9:7, 13) but now unable to exorcise. Jesus addressed to them especially his disciples, “You faithless generation! how much longer must I be with you?” Both the groups had much knowledge and experience of Jesus’ power. They had already witnessed it. They were called to show greater faith in Jesus but failed in it.
There was a person of third group who showed that he had little faith i.e. boy’s father but he had great humility to accept his limitedness. He requested Jesus, if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us. When Jesus challenged him by saying, everything is possible for anyone who has faith; that man cried out, “I do have faith, help the little faith I have.” This response shows his deep faith in Jesus.
However, Jesus extracted very important lesson from this incident. Jesus told them that there is no limit to His power, the only limitation is the barrier created by unbelief. (Mk. 6:5-6) It was the same unbelief that crucified Jesus on the cross.
There was yet another group present in the scene i.e. bystanders. When Jesus cured the boy, they thought that the boy was dead. They too were griped with unbelief. Jesus proved them too that he was in total control of the situation. Jesus took the boy with his hands and raised him and the boy stood up. The keywords in this miracle are the response of the father, “I do have faith, help the little faith I have”. The humility in accepting our limitedness to grasp the powers of God is a first step in growing with Jesus. The father of boy was humble. His humility paved way to receive God’s healing in his boy’s life.
St. James also addresses today in his letter to be humble in our lives. The bitterness, jealousy, self-seeking ambitious, telling lies, partiality, hypocrisy are not found in the humble man. This is the wisdom of God. A man who is blessed with the wisdom of God i.e. the fear of the Lord is the man who is humble. He is full of compassion. He does good. He works for peace. He bears fruits in holiness.
God wants us to bear fruits in holiness. God wants to us to receive his healing in our lives. The only barrier to receive God’s blessings is our unbelief, the greatest evil. We can over this evil only with the help of humility, prayer and fasting. The disciples found the answer when they humbled themselves and met Jesus privately. It means to say that they prayed to Jesus. Jesus showed them one of the means i.e. fasting which will make them dependent on God. It would make them humble too. May we over the evil of unbelief by becoming humble with the help of prayer and fasting.
Fr. Alex D’Mello
