Our Insufficiencies

Gospel: Matthew 17: 14-20

The disciples are unable to free a person from their demons.  Jesus has to rebuke them for their lack of faith.  We are no different from these disciples.  There are a great many demons lurking in our world that we are unable and unwilling to expel.  What is more, there are demons among us for which the alleged disciples of Jesus are responsible for their existence and continuation in our world, demons that need not exist at all.

How often have we heard it said that there are people who are not worthy of our help, people who are unable to be helped, or people we do not have time to help because we are about more important matters? This is an all too common refrain among the professional religious elites.  No actual criteria is offered as to who is deserving and undeserving, who is beyond help and who is not.  It is unclear as to what is more important than helping someone overcome their demons.

In the Gospel story this demoniac's father appeals to Jesus for help when he found none among his disciples.  How many people in our world do the same? How many maintain a deep faith and prayer life with the Lord when they find the church of no help to them? The church writes off such people, but Jesus does not.  He helps them across the ages in their journey of faith, in their search for healing, liberation, and nourishment on their way to the reign of God.