I Do Believe; Help My Unbelief – Mk. 9:23-24

Jesus came into the world to redeem us from our sins, to bring us back to our truest nature, to call us back to our truest selves as creatures made in the image and likeness of our Creator? Knowing this, what prevents us from recognizing our need for healing and forgiveness? The question is a matter of faith, is it not? It is in being confronted with the person of Jesus that rouses us out of our self-absorption into true self-awareness.

It is only when we can see ourselves without the clouded lens of the ego’s self-absorption, that we can truly experience the presence of Jesus in our lives. It is only when we are present to our real selves in humble self-awareness that we can begin to understand and accept the message that God intends for us individually. Only then can we begin to understand and to accept the personal, individual work that God wants to accomplish in and through us. This is a matter of faith; to be awake enough to hear God’s voice, above our self-concern.

It begins with the recognition of our need for something greater than ourselves, that there are things beyond our control. This conversion arises from our dawning awareness of our reality. This awareness is called into being when we bring ourselves humbly into the presence of Jesus. It is when we can recognize and let go of all of the disguises that our egos have made for us, that have alienated us from ourselves and others, that we can be healed. This is what happens to the father of the boy who is “possessed by a mute spirit” in this passage.

The father has a level of ‘faith’ that arises from his desperation for his son’s suffering, but it is incomplete. He has probably heard of Jesus’ healing powers. He is desperate to have his son healed from his great suffering. Now, he finds himself in the real presence of Jesus and says, “[I]f you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us” (v. 22). Jesus responds by challenging the father and the crowd saying, “If you are able! All things can be done for one who believes” (v. 23). To which the father cries out, “I believe; help my unbelief” (v. 24)! Could there be a more profound description of the experience of faith for most of us than in this father’s desperate cry? Yes, we believe, but we also recognize that our faith at times falls asleep. Sometimes we grow forgetful about our need for God. And sometimes our egos can delude us into denying our need for God. Like the father in this passage from Mark’s Gospel, our faith needs to be constantly re-awakened by humbly bringing our most real selves into the presence of Jesus.

It is when we make ourselves present to Jesus, like this father did, without pretense, without our ego disguises, that the healing, the forgiveness, the strength we most desire comes to us. When the father in this passage was able to see himself for who he was in the presence of Jesus and cried out for an increase in his faith,” that his son was healed. Is this not our cry to Jesus, too? Faith is the key component. It is our trust in Jesus’ power and authority that heals. He tells us many times during his public ministry, “Your faith has healed (saved) you. Go in peace” (Lk. 7: 50). Let us all say with humble hearts and minds: “Lord, I do believe; help my unbelief.”