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."
˜ Mark 9:17-19
Whenever I hear this passage read aloud in church, I have to stifle a chuckle when Jesus says, "How much longer must I put up with you?" Who among us hasn't either said that or thought it at some point when we are frustrated with the people around us? Jesus has tried to explain to the people who he is. He has performed many miracles, and the disciples have witnessed astonishing things, and yet, the people still do not fully believe that he is the Son of God.
When I began my studies as a hospital chaplain, one of my Sisters in the Convent told me about a prayer practice she had learned while working as a nurse, which involved thanking God for healing instead of asking God to heal. This approach can be used for others as well, so I began praying for people in the hospital by saying, "Thank you, God, for this healing miracle" instead of asking for one. I asked my Sister, "But what if I thank God for the miracle and then the patient dies?" She said, "That means that God has healed the person into the next life instead of healing them in this life. That, too, is a miracle." This prayer practice reinforces what Jesus does in his healing miracles. He makes it a participatory exercise instead of just putting his hands on someone and being done with it. Many times in the Gospels, he points out that the person's faith brought them healing. In today's story, the boy's father begs Jesus, "If you are able to do anything, help us!" and Jesus responds with, "If you are able! — All things can be done for the one who believes." The boy's father then utters one of the most profound pleas in all of Scripture: "I believe; help my unbelief!"
When we appeal to God for healing and transformation, we are active participants in that healing through our faith. Later in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus says, "So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" (Mark 11:24). This kind of faith can be ours, especially if we ask of Jesus, "I believe; help my unbelief."
Reflect: How can you be an active participant in healing? What holy habits might help in this journey?
This Lenten Meditation can be found at Episcopal Relief and Development