The Gospel from today's Mass picks up right after the Transfiguration of Jesus upon the mountaintop with Peter, James, and John, as we’ve just heard: “As Jesus came down from the mountain…”
Like many of our faith-enriching mountaintop experiences, for instance, coming off a great retreat, Jesus and the others are faced with a challenge. The scribes and Jesus’ other disciples are having an argument and there’s a large crowd to make it even more charged. Amidst this chaotic scene a father’s love breaks through the mass of humanity and raised voices to seek Jesus’ healing for his son. He explains to Jesus his son’s symptoms with desperation and the disciple’s inability to drive out the evil spirits.
Jesus takes a moment to call out the disciples, immediately calls for the boy, and then questions the father about his son. This reminds me of the professional and personal experiences of people who’ve reached the end of their rope in looking for medical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
Assigning the Symptoms
People who have had family who have gone to great lengths to get them seen by the best in the business will tell you that the practitioner asks a series of questions, such as how long this has been happening, what are the symptoms, etc. Then, the family member or person will say what that father said in so many words: "If you can do anything, have compassion and help us.”
Usually the healthcare worker will say, “I’ll need to run tests and then let you know, I’ll do my best to help you.” But this is Jesus the Son of God, and He is not only speaking to help the father but also the disciples and scribes when He says, “If you can!” “Everything is possible to one who has faith.”
Jesus, Help My Unbelief
What the father says next is born out of love and humility: “I do believe, help my unbelief!”
I do believe, help my unbelief; what an expression of where we find ourselves at any moment in our days when we are faced with our own limitations or temptations, or perhaps the suffering of those we are closest to like that father and son.
In this gospel passage, we are reminded of the power of Jesus given to the Apostles and their successors and those priests who serve as exorcists to drive out evil spirits in Jesus’ Name. But all of us can take some basic principles to use when we pray for the other difficult challenges that come our way or our loved ones.
First, ask the person as Jesus did a question or two about the problem they are facing.
Second, invite the person to place their trust in Jesus.
Third, bring the person to Jesus through prayer and if needed Confession and/or the Sacrament of the Sick.
Lastly, persevere in praying for this person. (Taken from: “The Gospel of Mark” by Mary Healy)
Free to Live in Faith
My brothers and sisters, we are reminded through today’s Word of God, that on that day, not only was a boy freed from evil and given a normal life. His father grew in faith in Jesus and the Apostles who would continue the mission of Jesus after He returned to the Father, learned a critical lesson that their ministry of healing and deliverance from evil will only bear fruit through their reliance on God by bringing their needs to the feet of Jesus in prayer (Taken from: “The Gospel of Mark” by Mary Healy)
May we also humbly say, Lord, “I do believe; help my unbelief”
- Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
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