FAITH CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS – AUGUST 7TH SATURDAY (Mt 17: 14-20)

1. The Morning had come; the Lord with the three chosen apostles came down from the Mountain of Transfiguration to rejoin those whom he had left behind. It was a strange contrast, He had just left behind. He had just left the peace of the mountain-side and the glory of the heavenly radiance. He came down to jealousies, the controversies, the miseries of earth.

2. The nine apostles had experienced a sad defeat, they received the power from Him but were weakened by the excitement, the agitation, the distressing predictions of the last few days. Like Aaron failed when Moses and Joshua were absent in Mt. Sinai, disciples meet the defeat.

3. Mathew emphasizes the failures of the disciples with respect to understanding and faith. In 2 Kgs 4: 31, Gehazi tries unsuccessfully to receive a child. His master Elisha late succeeds in restoring the boy to life.

4. The demon went forth: The assumption of the story is that the epilepsy was caused by a demon. Thus the healing of the boy is at root an exorcism. Though the ministers of the Lord are given the powers of healing, we should never lose our personal touch with the Lord.

5. The special difficulty of the case: The evil spirit was one of exceptional energy and malignity. Christians who would fights against such enemies must be double armed; by constant fervent prayer, they must keep themselves in the love of God, in that close communion with him, which is the secret of spiritual strength.

As Disciples of Christ, we will certainly experience spiritual defeats and failures. These moments of failures should help us to humbly surrender to Lord. We can ask the Lord for the reasons of our failure, be it in conquering the personal sins or failures in ministry. The Lord will point out the reasons for our failures and will give us the strength to overcome them if only we approach him with faith - a qualitative faith.

Courtesy

The Pulpit Commentary

Sacra Pagina Series