Faithless Generation
Have you ever seen the amazing power of prayer?
When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, 'Why could we not cast it out?' He said to them, 'This kind can come out only through prayer.' - Mark 9:28-29
In today's Gospel reading, Mark shows us Jesus in an interesting light.
When the disciples are unable to cast out a demon that afflicts a young boy, the father brings the boy to Jesus and Jesus gets angry.
He seems to yell at everyone, calling them a faithless generation, and then he calls the demon out.
But when the disciples ask why they couldn't do the same, he tells them this kind of spirit can only come out through prayer.
So, who did the praying?
Well, if we look closely, it could be the father. By coming to Jesus and asking Him to have pity on his son, he shows his faith.
"If you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.' Jesus said to him, 'If you are able! - All things can be done for the one who believes.'"
The healing comes to those who are able to believe.
We have heard this message before. Jesus is fairly consistent in delivering it. We have to come in faith, ask in faith and believe with all our heart, mind and soul.
It is a tall order, especially for those of us who like proof before we commit, who like to try before we buy.
You could say that we are that faithless generation that Jesus is talking about. We put ourselves in the hands of care workers and physicians, failing to see that they are instruments that need to assst us in the healing process.
We are the ones with the power to heal, just as Jesus said to the father. It is in you!
If we put all our faith in science, medicine and clinical tests, we may be missing the most important thing, the key to our cure, which is faith in God.
I have seen prognoses change based on the attitude of the patient. You faith has made you strong, and your strength can make you well.
So, let us pray. We need to pray for strength for ourselves and others who are sick. We need to ask God for his healing power, and fully believe it is in our power to move mountains with our faith.
When we give up, we die.
Let us no longer live like a faithless generation, but assist each other in courage with encouraging words and deep felt prayers.
For whom do you pray today?
More to come...
Image credit: Notegraphy.com