{"id":16263,"date":"2021-02-13T06:15:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-13T06:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/urc\/urc-daily-devotionsaturday-13th-february-2021"},"modified":"2021-02-13T06:15:00","modified_gmt":"2021-02-13T06:15:00","slug":"urc-daily-devotion-saturday-13th-february-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/index.php\/urc-daily-devotion-saturday-13th-february-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"URC Daily Devotion\u00a0\u00a0Saturday 13th February 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saturday 13th February 2021<\/span><\/p>\n

St Mark 9: 14 – 29<\/p>\n

When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.  When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him.  He asked them, \u2018What are you arguing about with them?\u2019  Someone from the crowd answered him, \u2018Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak;  and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.\u2019  He answered them, \u2018You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.\u2019   And they brought the boy  to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it threw the boy into convulsions, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.  Jesus asked the father, \u2018How long has this been happening to him?\u2019 And he said, \u2018From childhood.  It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.\u2019  Jesus said to him, \u2018If you are able!\u2014All things can be done for the one who believes.\u2019 Immediately the father of the child cried out, \u2018I believe; help my unbelief!\u2019  When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, \u2018You spirit that keep this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!\u2019  After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, \u2018He is dead.\u2019  But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand.  When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, \u2018Why could we not cast it out?\u2019  He said to them, \u2018This kind can come out only through prayer.\u2019<\/p>\n

Reflection<\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019 true character has just been revealed in his mountain top transfiguration. Having descended with four of his awe-struck disciples, he is now confronted with a crisis: swirling, excited crowds; argumentative scribes; a distraught father with a chronically ill boy; and the rest of his disciples unable to cope. Talk about \u2018highs\u2019 and \u2018lows\u2019? Yes, it has the ring of truth about it, hasn\u2019t it?  We recognize from our own experience that our elation can be short lived in the face of problems we haven\u2019t anticipated, and can\u2019t easily solve.<\/p>\n

Demon possession and physical illness are often two separate conditions in the Gospels \u2013 but here both afflict the boy whose condition appears incurable. While we might use the terms \u2018mental illness\u2019 and\u2019 epilepsy\u2019 to describe demon possession and grand mal seizures, we do well to remember how closely linked our mental and physical faculties are. Jesus\u2019 concern is for the welfare of the boy, rather than any analysis of the causes. His pastoral approach to relieving suffering, done as privately as the situation permitted, remains a model for the church to follow.<\/p>\n

The distraught father who brought his son for healing to Jesus\u2019 overwhelmed disciples, also found healing. In a dialogue with Jesus which echoes down through the centuries, \u2019I believe, help my unbelief\u2019 is the cry which opens a path to healing (or salvation) for all who place their ultimate trust in God. It is a prayer whose honesty breaks down the barriers we erect between ourselves and a loving God.<\/p>\n

What does Jesus teach us through this Gospel story? Having been comforted, do we dis-associate ourselves from the \u2018faithless generation\u2019 which Jesus found so frustrating before he healed? Where are our prayers and our faith going to take us today?
 
Prayer<\/p>\n

Gracious God
the times we live through
can oppress and dismay us,
as though we had no part
in their making.
Teach us to be honest in our judgements,
loving in our actions.
Encourage us in our faith\u2019s journey
to believe that we always have a part
to play in your kingdom\u2019s coming
till that day 
when you welcome us home 
Amen
 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Saturday 13th February 2021 St Mark 9: 14 – 29 When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.  When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him.  He asked them, \u2018What are you arguing … <\/p>\n

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