Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
In facing the most challenging situations of life, usually after exhausting our own personal efforts and expertise, we'll often say or hear the words, "all we can do now is pray." There's an altogether positive and healthy sense of surrender in that statement- acknowledging that the outcome is ultimately in the hands of God. However, if we were completely honest with ourselves, there might also be a sense of hopelessness is this statement- perhaps because it's often said in seemingly hopeless situations or because we begin with the worlds "all we can do", as if it's incomplete or should be supplemented with something more. Yet, as disciples- as prayerful disciples- prayer is not a last resort, but a first necessity. As disciples, we recognize the power of prayer.
In today's Gospel from Mark, Jesus' disciples are presented with a seemingly hopeless situation in which a boy has been possessed by a mute spirit since his birth. After failing attempts by the disciples to drive out the spirit, the boy's father brings his son to Jesus, who successfully rebukes the spirit and commands it to leave the boy. When the disciples ask Jesus why they could not drive out the spirit, Jesus instructs them that, "This kind can only come out through prayer." Reflecting on this reading, we are reminded of the power and efficacy of prayer and the prominence that it must hold in the life of each Christian. The danger for us is to reduce the power of prayer, particularly prayers of petition, to the level of a magic trick, which either works or doesn't work. Instead, the power of prayer is first observed in the transformation of the praying heart (CCC 2739). Christian prayer is efficacious because of the prayer of Jesus, who prays in us (CCC 2740). Regarding our own prayer life, how has our heart been transformed- within the last week? Last month? Or last year? How would our discipleship change if we surrendered even our prayer life- when we pray, how we pray, what we pray for- to Jesus?
Interestingly, Scripture never describes Jesus as specifically praying Himself prior to driving out the spirit. However, a prayer is said- not by Jesus, but by the boy's father. In the form of a prayer, the boy's father cries out, "I do believe, help my unbelief!" This prayer is simple, humble, and honest- confessing that, to some degree, even our faith is dependent upon and derived from God Himself. What makes it powerful is the dependency that is placed on Jesus. Exercising our human freedom, we surrender our petitions and our very selves to the person and power of Jesus, the image of the living God. Today's first reading from Sirach offers nearly poetic insight into the awe-inspiring power and dominion of God. As disciples, we are called to pray in simplicity, humility, and honesty- asking this same God, the "One" who is wise, to exercise His power by first increasing our faith.
The importance of prayer in the Christian life cannot be underscored. Our attempts to respond to the commands of the Gospel, particularly the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, are refreshed, renewed, and rooted in our prayer. Otherwise, it simply becomes a human effort which will ultimately fail. In this way, the power of prayer takes on a new dimension- a dimension of action and service in which we become a living prayer. And, indeed, if "all we can do" is pray, then "all we can do" is a lot. Regardless of the situations that we may be facing, however seemingly hopeless, let's begin the time we spend in prayer today by first partnering with Jesus in the humble yet powerful words, "Lord, I do believe, help my unbelief!" Amen.
Ryan J. Mahle