Jesus had just come down from the mountain of Transfiguration and his face was beaming. When the people saw him, they walked towards him. He asked them what was happening and learned that his disciples were not able to solve the problem of the boy with a spirit, a deaf mute. Jesus rebuked his disciples for their lack of faith, and asked the boy to be brought to him. The parents pleaded to him, saying, “…Have pity on us and help us, if you possibly can!” (Mark 9:22) Jesus replied, “Yes, if you yourselves can! Everything is possible for the person who has faith” (Mark 9:23). And he drove away the dumb and deaf spirit from the boy.

How many times in our lives have we been beset with problems seemingly impossible to solve? How many times have we been troubled? How have we coped with these? How have we drawn from our well of faith? In the passage, the father’s reply was, “I do have faith, but not enough. Help me have more!” And the boy was healed.

Let us pray to the Holy Spirit to give us the grace of true faith.