Lectio Divina – 34

Fr Martin Kallunkal

Reading
“As they were rejoining the crowd a man came up to him and went down on his knees before him. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘take pity on my son: he is demented and in a wretched state; he is always falling into fire and into water. I took him to your disciples and they were unable to cure him.’ In reply, Jesus said, ‘Faithless and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.’ And when Jesus rebuked it the devil came out of the boy, who was cured from that moment. Then the disciples came privately to Jesus. ‘Why were we unable to drive it out?’ they asked. He answered, ‘Because you have so little faith.’ In truth I tell you, if your faith is the size of a mustard seed you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you’” (Mt. 17:14-20).

Reflection
The man in this passage comes to Jesus because the disciples could not cure his son. A quick comparison of this passage with the Markan version of the event (Mk. 9:14-29),which, according to the scholars, is the original account, will help us to see an important point to start our reflections. The disciples’ inability to heal the boy has not only shaken the faith of the man who finally takes his son to Jesus but also given a valid point to the scribes to argue with them. That the man is scandalized is evident from the way he phrases his requestin the Markan version. According to St Matthew’s report, the man plainly prays for mercy, “Lord, take pity on my son.”But, according to St Mark, the man expresses his lack of complete confidence in Jesus very explicitly: “if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us” (Mk. 9:23). Jesus is deeply pained and disturbed when He notices the incertitude in faith that reflected in the request made to him, and, hence, He also retorts quickly, “if you can?” (Mk. 9:24). Second, Jesus has power far beyond His disciples. This is evident from the fact that the boy is healed instantly when Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit. In order to understand this strange situation, we need to note that there are two kinds of faith: the saving faith that comes from God (Phil. 1:29), and the miracle working faith that comes from the Holy Spirit (1Cor 12:10). Disciples do have the saving faith. That is why, unlike the scribes and others, they follow Jesus. But, they are not fully filled with the Holy Spirit at that moment, which happens later at the Pentecost. On the other hand, Jesus, who is filled with the Holy Spirit” (Lk. 4:1) can always work miracles effortlessly. Third, Jesus expresses His disappointment as well as patience with His disciples’ lack of expected growth in faith. Actually, Jesus had given the disciples authority over unclean spirits with power to drive them out and to cure all kinds of illness (Mt. 10:1). But, perhaps, the disciples did not receive it fully through their sustained effort to grow in the Spirit. They were still men of doubt and very little faith.

Prayer
Merciful Lord, I kneel before you. There have been moments, Lord, when the ministers and means of your grace could not heal me. In spite of frequent participation in ceremonial rites, I have found myself unchanged. Yes, Lord, this has weakened my faith in your caring love for me. I am a faithless creature who belongs to a generation of skeptics. Send not your servants to me, Lord. Ask not to come to you through any ritual means. Come to me Lord, my God! You alone can heal the wounds I bear in my heart.

Contemplation
Time has come to meet the Lord directly. He is inviting you for a personal encounter. None and nothing can hinder your from being touched by your God. Thank the Lord, for what you thought immovable is, now, disappearing.

Action    
Find some time to talk to people who had some disillusionment with one or another minister in the Church. Tell them that the power of Jesus’s love for them is far beyond that of any minister in this world. Prepare them to meet with Christ personally, and in that light with Jesus’ earthly ministers.