Mk 9:14-29
14When [Jesus, Peter, James, and John] came to the [other] disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. 15Immediately on seeing [Jesus], the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. 16He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. 18Wherever 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.”
19He 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.” 20They 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. 21Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood. 22It 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.” 23Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” 24Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” 25Jesus, 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!” 26Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” 27But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. 28When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive it out?” 29He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”
This kind can only come out through prayer: How many times do you think you have tried everything, yet nothing seems to be happening? You are frustrated and exasperated because everything seems to fail and your efforts come to nothing. When you have almost given up, try praying.
Prayer springs from faith, a firm belief that there is an unseen force far greater than what we can do, far wiser than what we know, farther reaching than what we can accomplish. Faith is believing in a God who believes in us. Faith is a patient, consistent involvement that knows how to wait and trust.
Scribes: Scribes were educated men engaged for their writing skills. In Jesus’ time, the scribe was a scholar of the Law who enjoyed a respected position of leadership in the Jewish community and who received the title “rabbi.” Although a scribe as such was not a member of a Jewish sect or party, in fact, many of the scribes belonged to the party of the Pharisees, adhering to the strict interpretation of the Law. The Gospels often refer to “the scribes and the Pharisees,” lumping both groups together.