Ruby Slippers
In the story The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy finds herself on a quest to get back home after landing in a strange and magical world. Upon arrival, she is given a pair of ruby slippers and what she doesn't realize is that from that moment on, the power to achieve what she wants is in her. All she needs to do is call upon it.
In the Gospel reading today, Jesus gets angry. It isn't clear if his anger is aimed at his disciples for their failure to cure a sick boy, or at the boy and his father.
When the father pleads with him, he seems to rebuke him.
'It 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.' Jesus said to him, 'If you are able! - All things can be done for the one who believes.' - Mark 9:22-23
It sounds like Jesus is telling the father it is his fault that the boy isn't cured.
Like Dorothy, we have the power of faith with us, ready to work for us, but we need to believe it is real and true.
It reminds me of those times as a child when I would struggle with my homework. I would run to Dad with a problem that had me stumped and frustrated only to hear him say, "You can do it. You have it in you."
That's not what I wanted to hear. I wanted him to solve it for me.
Does it work the same way when we pray to our Heavenly Father?
"You can do it. I have faith in you!"
What a twist! No wonder we think God doesn't hear us. It may be that we don't want to hear God!
But the story has a happy ending. Jesus does cure the boy, casting out the demon, but not before the boy's father accepted responsibility.
Immediately the father of the child cried out, 'I believe; help my unbelief!' - Mark 9:24
So, what s the lesson here?
That is exactly what the disciples wanted to know.
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
Jesus tells them they need to pray. How should they pray? How should we pray?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book, Psalms: The Prayer Book of The Bible, tells us that it is through the Psalms that Jesus prayed, and that we can call upon the prayers of Jesus to help us through the troubles and sicknesses of this world.
With our ability to search for anything anywhere, we don't need to memorize the Psalms to be able to call upon them in time of need.
Do not forsake me, O Lord!
O my God, be not far from me!
Make haste to help me,
O Lord, my salvation!
- Psalm 38:21-22
While Dorothy closed her eyes and clicked her heels reciting, "There's no place like home," we can call upon the power of our faith much more simply.
All we need to do is pray.
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