THE WORD
Jas 3,13-18 / Mk 9,14-29
When they came to the 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, “Why do you say: ‘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 couldn’t we drive it out?” He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”
IN OTHER WORDS
A confrere, after having worked in Congo for more than forty years, asked permission to go back to his home country. He had difficulties with his hands and could no longer hold a hammer. Mustering all courage a young Congolese confrere approached him and said: “Father, why are you leaving Congo?” He replied, “I am no longer of use here since I’m getting frail.” The young man said: “But father, we want you here with us not because of your work but of your presence.” The old confrere learned a new lesson. “Young man, had you said that before I asked for transfer, I would have stayed with you in Congo.”
“How long will I be with you?” Jesus asked in exasperation. He was absent just for a short while up on the mountain and down on the plane he saw the havoc. He perceived his disciples with confused faces, a large crowd making lots of noise, arguing and discussing with the scribes. In their midst a young boy convulsing held by his poor father. Now the picture was clear. While Jesus was away the father approached his disciples and asked for help. Without Jesus the disciples were helpless. They must have been very embarrassed facing the crowd and the Jewish authorities.
In the beginning of Mark’s Gospel it was said that Jesus appointed twelve “that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach”. Being with him was a necessary requisite before announcing Jesus to others. This episode showed what happened if Jesus was absent in the life of the apostles. After the resurrection of Jesus he manifested his presence to his disciples, working with them as they preached, confirming their message accompanied by the signs.
If Jesus is present in the life of a missionary his presence is very important for strengthening the faith of the community. If God is there, the devil cannot be there. Through prayer we can drive Satan away. “Everything is possible to one who has faith,” Jesus assures us. We pray: “We do believe, help our unbelief”.
- Fr. Xene Sanchez, SVD | Congo, Africa
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
