Суббота

(Gal. 1, 3–10; Luke 9, 37–43) After leaving the Mount of Transfiguration, the Lord heals the demon-possessed young man. The healing was preceded by a reproach for unbelief as the reason why the poor man was not healed by the disciples. No matter whose unbelief it is—whether it is the father who brought his son, or the gathered people, or perhaps even the apostles—it is only clear that unbelief closes the door of God’s merciful intercession and help, but faith opens it. The Lord said to the father: as much as you can believe, you will receive as much *22. Faith is not a matter of one thought and mind when it relates to the face, but embraces the whole being of a person. It concludes the mutual obligations of the believer and the One in whom he believes, even if they are not expressed literally. He who believes relies on him in everything and does not expect him to deny himself anything; therefore she turns to him with an undivided mind, as to a father, goes to him as to her treasury, in the confidence that she will not return empty-handed. Such a disposition inclines without words even the one to whom it is present. This happens between people. But in its true form, the power of dispositions appears when they are addressed to the Lord, who is omnipotent, omniscient and who wants to give us every good; and a true believer is never disappointed in his expectations. If we don’t have something and, asking for it, don’t receive it, it’s because we don’t have the proper faith. First of all, we must seek and establish complete faith in the Lord in our hearts, seek and beg it from Him, for it is not from us, but God’s gift (Eph. 2:8). The young man’s father, in response to the demand for faith, prayed: “I believe, Lord, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). He believed weakly, hesitatingly, and prayed for confirmation of faith. And who will boast of the perfection of faith and who, therefore, does not need to pray: “help, Lord, my unbelief?” If faith were strong in us, then our thoughts would be pure, our feelings would be holy, and our deeds would be pleasing to God. Then the Lord would listen to us like a father to children; and whatever would fall into our hearts—and at the same time only one thing pleasing to the Lord could fall—we would receive all of it without refusal or delay. “If you can believe as much as possible, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). You might be interested in: