Today’s Gospel tells us about the mysterious healing of the young man who had been obsessed with the unclean spirit. His father addressed the apostles asking for help, but they didn’t manage to do it. At that time, Jesus wasn’t being present there because He was praying. When Jesus came back, the young man’s father started asking Him for help. The Son of God said to him, “All things are possible for one who believes”. The man responded, “I believe, help my unbelief!” (Mk. 9:23)
“I believe, help my unbelief!”
(Mk. 9:23)
Through the belief of the father, Lord healed the suffering young man while driving out the unclean spirit. Answering the apostle’s question, why couldn’t they heal the young man, Jesus said, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting”. (Mk. 9:29)
Jesus Christ made this miracle of healing a long time ago, but His doctrine about the power of prayer and fasting has been relevant for all generations. Thank God, we have not been shocked by the severe disease the poor young man had. We are able to come to the church to pray and glorify God. Therefore, everybody has a disease that is tormenting us. The disease is called “sin”. Only prayer and fasting can help us get rid of it. It is extremely necessary to get rid of the sins because they ruin the image and the likeness of God within a man. The sins ruin the soul and the body, they deprive a man of human dignity.
Unfortunately, we can observe and even be insulted by the destroying power of the sin nowadays, especially in the families, where there are the drunkards, or the addicts, in the families where the abortions, violence, or other mortal sins take place. Not only people of the way of life like this are suffering because of it, but also the whole families are being under constant stress. Evil can not be imprisoned in the cage, it spreads to the environment.
That’s why, my dear brothers and sisters, let us ask the Lord for strengthening our faith. May our prayer and our fasting be effective while healing of our souls and of the souls of our relatives in need. Be sure, that God as a merciful father is waiting every day for our conversion. He is ready to forgive us our sins. Let us take care that our souls could meet our heavenly Father in the Holy Mysteries of Confession and Communion as often as possible. Amen.