Mark 9:14-24 NRSVue

14When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them and some scribes arguing with them. 15When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. 16He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak, 18and 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.” 19He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” 20And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, help us! Have compassion on us!” 23Jesus said to him, “If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.” 24Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
Faith is a mixture of light and darkness, and in my life sometimes one, sometimes the other, dictates my mood. There have been times when I felt at the end of my tether, desolate, far removed from the God whose silence was oppressive. You touched me, Lord, on one of those occasions: not with consolation, but with a deep sense that I was born for something more than this emptiness. It was then that this prayer expressed just where I found myself: /I believe; help my unbelief!/ Inability to explain is no ground for disbelief. Not as long as the sense of God persists.