A reading from the Holy Gospel according St Mark, Apostle and Evangelist (Mk 9:17-31).
One of the crowds said to Jesus, "Master, I brought my son to you, possessed by a mute spirit. When he grabs it, he throws it to the ground and he foams, grinds his teeth, and stiffens. I told your disciples to cast him out, but they failed". He then in response, said to them, "O unbelieving generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him to me". And they brought him to him. At the sight of Jesus, the spirit convulsed the boy and he, fallen to the ground, rolled himself foaming. Jesus asked his father: "How long has this been happening to him?". And he replied, "From childhood; indeed, he often threw him even into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have mercy on us and help us". Jesus said to him: "If you can! Everything is possible for those who believe". The child’s father answered aloud: "I believe, help me in my unbelief". Then Jesus, seeing the crowd coming, threatened the unclean spirit saying: "Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, go out of him and never come back". And shouting and shaking him strongly, he came out. And the child became as if dead, so many said: "he is dead". But Jesus, taking him by the hand, lifted him up and he stood up. He then entered a house, and the disciples asked him privately: "Why couldn’t we drive him away?". And he said to them: "This sort of demons cannot be cast out in any way, except by prayer". They went from there through Galilee, but he did not want anyone to know. In fact, he instructed his disciples and told them: "The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men and they will kill him; but once killed, after three days, he will rise again".
Reflection
Dear brothers and sisters, this Sunday we reflect on the power of faith and the need to entrust ourselves completely to God in our daily challenges. In the Gospel passage that we have just heard, we are presented with a moving scene: a desperate father approaches Jesus carrying his son, tormented by an evil spirit.
This father, in his anguish, implored Jesus to heal his son, but also added a sincere and humble request: "I believe, help my unbelief". This statement shows us the tension between faith and the uncertainty that we often face in our lives. Even if we believe in God, we may find it difficult to keep our faith firm in the face of hardship and adversity.
Jesus, with his infinite compassion, answers the father’s request and heals the boy. But then he turns to his disciples, recognizing their weakness in faith. Telling them that if they had even a small amount of faith, they would be able to do extraordinary things.
This reminds us that faith is a powerful force that can move mountains, if only we cultivate it and feed it in our hearts. Faith is not only a matter of believing in something, but it is also a matter of complete trust and trust in God, even when circumstances seem desperate.
When we face the challenges of life, we must learn to turn our gaze to God, for it is only through him that we can find the strength and the hope to move forward. We must also be aware of our humanity and our tendency to doubt, but we must also be ready to ask God to increase our faith, just as the father did in the Gospel passage.
We must learn from Jesus' example and demonstrate our faith with love and service to others. True faith is evident in our daily actions, in our treatment of others and in the way we live.
Dear friends, we can take inspiration from this Gospel passage to deepen our faith, asking God to sustain us in our frailty and demonstrating our faith through love and service. With God’s help, we can overcome every obstacle and live a life marked by hope and trust in His infinite love.
And it is precisely this theme of trust and hope in God that is the glue that binds the Gospel message of this Fourth Sunday of the Great Lent with the first reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb. 6:13-20).
If in the passage of Saint Mark, we see a father desperate for the demonic possession of his son, despite his lack of complete faith, pray to the Lord for his healing and deliverance, in the Letter to the Hebrews, instead we find a call to trust in God through the example of Abraham. Abraham firmly believed in God’s promises, even when they seemed impossible to accomplish. The Epistle describes how God, being faithful to his promises, confirmed the importance of his promise through an oath, to give the heirs of the promise "a strong encouragement to grasp the hope that has been placed before us" (Hebrews 6:18).
Both passages highlight the importance of trust in God even in the face of adversity. While in the Gospel the father addresses Jesus with an uncertain faith, in the Letter to the Hebrews Abraham is cited as an example of a firm faith in the divine promises. In both cases, faith is closely linked to hope, founded on the certainty of God’s promises and on trust in his faithfulness.
Dear brothers and sisters, in addition to reflecting on the Gospel passage, it is important to examine the historical context and the comments of the Fathers of the Church for a deeper understanding of the meaning of this passage.
Saint John Chrysostom, in his writings, deepens the concept of faith as fundamental in the spiritual life of the believer. He explains that faith is a gift of God and that only through it we can receive divine graces. Chrysostom writes: "Faith is the mother of charity and piety. It is the source of prayer and hope. And trust is the crown of faith".
This Gospel passage is particularly significant during Lent, a period of reflection, repentance, and spiritual renewal. The request of the father, "I believe, helps my disbelief", can become a model prayer for us in this time of preparation for Easter. We can turn to God with humility, asking His help to strengthen our faith and overcome our doubts.
We must all remember that true faith is manifested in our daily actions, in our love and service to others. As Master teaches us, if we have even a small amount of faith, we can accomplish extraordinary things.
Although we live in a world marked by hatred, violence, and abandonment, finding the strength to entrust ourselves to God may seem like a titanic undertaking. However, it is possible. This search for strength requires a combination of faith, prayer, community, and hope. Despite adversity, we can take comfort in knowing that God is always with us, ready to help us with His grace and love.
During my journey as a deacon, I have had the privilege of sharing touching moments that go straight to the heart and that nourish deep reflection on the faith and love of God.
I am reminded of a particular moment in which I was able to bring comfort and hope to a family of one of my mourning aunt, following the compassionate example of Jesus in the Gospel passage. In those moments of pain and suffering, I tried to be a channel of healing and deliverance, offering sincere prayers, consolation, and practical support not only to her but also to my cousin who were afflicted with grief over the loss of a man who was father and husband.
Likewise, I have had the opportunity to promote spiritual growth in the community through catechesis, preaching and the teaching of the Word of God. I have tried to guide the faithful in understanding and applying the Gospel messages in their daily lives, encouraging them to cultivate a deeper faith and a closer relationship with God.
By uniting the message of today’s Gospel with the context of violence and despair, we draw inspiration and strength from the witness of the father who, despite his uncertainty, turns to Jesus for help and confesses his weakness. This shows us the possibility of approaching God with sincerity, aware of our weaknesses, and finding acceptance and compassion in His wonderful presence.
Looking at the Gospel in the context of our times marked by hatred and violence, we find comfort in the knowledge that God is with us, listens to our supplications and loves us infinitely. Even during dark or difficult times, where hope seems to fade, we can trust that God, with His presence and His love, can bring a new perspective, a light that illuminates the path and hope that things will improve, even though it seems impossible now.
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, in this time of Lent, we can draw inspiration from the witness of this father in this passage of the Gospel to strengthen our faith in God and thus spur us to commit ourselves constantly to continue to walk along our path of conversion and spiritual growth.
May God grant us the grace of a firm faith and the strength to live according to his commandments.
Amen.
Archdeacon Michele Alberto Del Duca.