Mark 9:14–29
When
the crowd saw Jesus, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran
forward to greet him. He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”
Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a
spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes
him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your
disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.” He answered them, “You
faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must
I put up with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. When the
spirit saw him, immediately it threw the boy into convulsions, and he fell on
the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, “How
long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 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.” Immediately the
father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw
that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to
it, “You spirit that keep this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you,
come out of him, and never enter him again!” After crying out and convulsing
him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them
said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he
was able to stand. 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.”
Reflection
“I believe. Help my unbelief!” Does it echo in my heart as well? What do I believe and what do I don’t
believe?
Jesus told the disciples, “This
kind can come out only through prayer.” What does he
mean “prayer”? How is my prayer? Is it only empty words?