Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Everything is possible to one who has faith.”

Gospel Reading: Mark 9:14-29 As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John and approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" Someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so." He said to them in reply, "O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me." They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. Then he questioned his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" He replied, "Since childhood. It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Jesus said to him, "'If you can!' Everything is possible to one who has faith." Then the boy's father cried out, "I do believe, help my unbelief!" Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, "Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!" Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, "He is dead!" But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, "Why could we not drive the spirit out?" He said to them, "This kind can only come out through prayer."

Do you have things that inflict you? Are there sins in your life that have possession over you? In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us about the power of faith and prayer. A father has brought his son to be freed from a demon which possesses him. But before the boy could be healed, the father must demonstrate that he believes in power of God. In response to the father’s doubt, Jesus replies, “If you can!” Jesus lets the father know that the doubt he possesses is what keeps his son from being healed. The father submits to Jesus saying “I believe.” Because of his strengthened faith in God, his son is healed. We too must be willing to submit completely to Christ to conquer the demons in our life. Unfortunately, we let doubt come between us and Christ. It’s like when Peter tried to walk on water. It was his faith that allowed him to walk on water, likewise, it was his sudden doubt that caused him to fall into the water. The sea was troubled and Peter was overcome a sudden lack of faith. Our lives are a lot like the troubled sea. There are many things that attack our faith and try to drive a wedge between us and God. Doubt is one of the strongest tools that Satan has to separate us from God. It is through our faith in God that we share in the true power of God. Faith is a gift from God. When our faith is weak and we have doubt, we must be willing to fall on our knees and ask God to strengthen our faith. If we allow doubt to grow, the doubt will continue to eat at our faith. Jesus told his disciples the reason they could not dispel the demon was because it required prayer. Prayer is communication with God. It is our link to our Father in Heaven. Prayer is not just words, but actions as well. The disciples were trying to cure the boy on their own. However, it is the power of God Almighty that gives us the strength. When we try to conquer our troubles without God, we set ourselves up for defeat. God is our power and our strength. With him on our side, we can conquer anything.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God in Heaven, everything is possible with you.

I believe, help my unbelief.

Give me strength and wisdom to conquer my doubt.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon