24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)
Today we really step into Lent, the time when we walk with Jesus to the cross, perhaps spend time in a kind of fasting by denying something we like or by adding something to strengthen our faith and draw us closer to God. A bit heavy! This year our Sunday texts draw from the life of Christ as reported in the gospel of Mark. So I am going to look at Lent through the gospel of Mark.
Mark 9 starts with the Transfiguration when Jesus climbs a mountain and steps into one of those thin places in reality. Peter, James and John see him glistening whiter than white and speaking with Moses and Elijah. The Father speaks, “This is my beloved Son, listen!” They descend the mountain and turn towards Jerusalem. In Lent, we listen.
As Jesus and followers reach the bottom of the mountain they encounter a commotion that I think puts words to the cry of Lent, “Help!” A father is there with his son who has been deaf and dumb from childhood. The man believes an evil spirit seizes his son, throws him in the fire often, and throws him into fits that remind us of epilepsy. It does not matter how we explain the whys of our life, the reality is that we know life is not being lived as it should be. Something is wrong within and without me.
The boy’s father responds, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. (V.21)”. The father acknowledges his need for help, his helplessness and his need for pity from the God of the universe. Jesus responds, “Believe.” And so we stand with the father, caught in the reality that only God can make life work, not government, education, money or fame. We are the creature and Jesus is God. Like the alcoholic we admit our we are alcoholics. We believe but faith does not always get what we want. We know not all are healed with miracles. Not all are healed with medicine. The peace declaration at the end of a war does not mean that there does not need to be reconstruction.
In Lent we bow our head and plead, “We believe, help our unbelief.” So as we start the Lenten season, let us do an acrostic on the type of relationship we would like God to grow in us during these next 40 days. R is for ____, E is for _____, L is for _____, A is for _____, T is for _____, I _____, O is for _____, N is for _____, S is for _______, H is for _____, I is for _____ and P is for _____. Whew, a lot of letters. Blessings as you ponder.
On the Way to Wonder 