but they could not.” Jesus replied, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.”
And they brought the boy to him. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it shook and convulsed the boy, who fell on the ground and began rolling about,
foaming at the mouth. Then Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “From childhood.
And it has often thrown him into the fire and into the water to destroy him. If you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.”
Jesus said to him, “Why do you say, ‘If you can?’ All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately, the father of the boy cried out,
“I do believe, but help the little faith I have.” Jesus saw that the crowd was increasing rapidly, so he ordered the evil spirit,
“Dumb and deaf spirit, I command you: Leave the boy and never enter him again.”
The evil spirit shook and convulsed the boy and with a terrible shriek came out. The boy lay like a corpse and people said,
“He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and the boy stood up. After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately,
“Why couldn’t we drive out the spirit?” And he answered, “Only prayer can drive out this kind, nothing else.”
REFLECTION:
"I do believe. Help my unbelief!” The prayer of the father, disappointed by the intervention of the apostles,
is one of the most authentic and disarming prayer in the entire gospel. He does not blame the Teacher; he is simply worried about his son’s health.
He is not making a question of faith; he just wants his child to be better. And he admits it. He recognizes that he does not have enough faith.
And Jesus intervenes, understands, and heals.
The apostles, on the other hand, coming down from the mountain of Transfiguration, are convinced that they can do everything and succeed.
But they did not.
Only God can heal. Yes, God shares the gift with us but we need to continue to grow more and more in him and with him….
and Prayer is the key to our growth in holiness and service.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2020