Love Cloud – February 20, 2012
02202012, Monday
James 3:13-18/ Psalm 19
Gospel: Mark 9:14-29
Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by a Demon
When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
“What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.
A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
“You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
Today’s gospel reminds us of how faithless of a generation we are. With the emerging and sudden need for science and technology, we somehow redirect our trust that should be for the Lord to the means of the worldly advances that seem to provide easier ways in adapting the hassles of life. And because some things are uniquely capable, consequently, we develop an ‘If you can’ attitude towards others and the Lord which, in the context of faith, can be described as being half-hearted.
We all share our own awkward experiences of being half-hearted specially in taking the mission of the Lord. We tend to make decisions according to our thoughts rather than by living in faith thus creating uncertainties in our belief. Doubting our abilities to serve only put limits to what our Lord can do and provide.
When we are called or invited to do God’s work through others, we can never answer “if I can.” It should always be “I can.” What we can do, we do with God’s help; what we cannot do we turn over to Him so He can work and He surely will.
Everything is possible to one who has faith. Let us embrace the totality of God’s power to heal, protect, and love and all that you can imagine will not be impossible.
Writer: Ashel Uson | Artist: Zee Suarez of Works of HeART ♥
