When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, and said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him." Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."
Forward Day by Day has a great reflection on this Gospel reading today.
Late one Friday afternoon, a priest received a phone call from a woman he did not know, who needed almost $2,000 by Monday afternoon or she and her family would be homeless. Various illnesses had kept the woman and her husband from working, and they were months behind in their mortgage payments. The woman was a member of no church and seemed to have no interest in changing that: she simply wanted money, and her situation was desperate. The priest offered her what he could, but it was not enough to stop the foreclosure. He could not get the plight of this family of six out of his mind.
Early on Sunday morning he decided to tell the parish that the loose offering that day would go to help some strangers keep their house. Because it was a holiday weekend and many people were out of town, he did not know what to expect. But when the loose offering was counted, it amounted to just over $2,000.
Jesus' words about faith moving mountains have gotten a lot of people into trouble because they relied on a miracle to do everything. What Jesus means is that generosity of spirit always accomplishes more than too scrupulous insistence on what cannot be done. (2003)
I think we want to be careful about applying faith in God with the idea of an eternal ATM. God does give us what we need with all generosity. Faith in God is more than just trusting for all that we want or even need. Faith recognizes that God is what we need and everything else proceeds from God.
In this Gospel if Jesus is chastising the disciples about anything, it is their failure to recognize that God was in their midst and can give them what they need. Many times while we are going through difficult times and experiences we will wonder if God is there with us. When the news about the job we lost arrived or the information that a loved one has a terminal illness, or we just didn't have enough money to afford our rent or mortgage, we tend to ask: "God, where are you?" While such questions seem to be devoid of faith, they are actually opportunities for us to open up ourselves to searching for God and see how God will answer our hearts desire.
This past weekend I learned a lot about just accepting all that God has already given. This weekend I was hoping that Jason and I could have gone to a pool party with a group of friends. However, as events and opportunity would have it during the week, we just were not able to go. As it turned out, it rained most of the weekend and it was cold. We had some grocery shopping to do and we really needed some time, just to be at home together with each other in some quiet time. It turned out to be better than going to the pool party. God had already given me what I needed, I just needed to put my trust in God and then I would learn what I had was wonderful, because it is what God gave to us.
One of the biggest lies about ex-gay ministries such as Exodus International, The Courage Apostolate started by Cardinal Cook, JONAH, NARTH and many others, is that they proclaim a "faith" that suggests that God is so displeased with homosexual orientation that God brought together their ex-gay ministries to change someone. These programs are supported by many churches and religious based organizations. Rather than helping to change sexual orientation, such ministries actually get lesbians and gays to suppress their same-sex feelings. The suppression of being attracted to people of the same sex results in creating feelings of shame, guilt, fear, depression and even thoughts of suicide for LGBT and Questioning people.
The faith and generosity with which God has given to LGBTQ individuals is found within themselves as they have been created. Our gay sexuality, as lesbian and gay folk, the sexuality of bisexual people and the gender identity/expression of transgendered people is the means by which our faith and God's generosity is shared with the world. Our sexuality and gender identity/expression have within them our ability to love other people. LGBT people express our love for other people out of the depths of who we are, and how we are. All God asks of LGBTQ people is that we be willing to have enough faith in God and in ourselves to be able to give generously of ourselves for the good of others. That is what I believe Jesus was telling the disciples in this Gospel. "Do you have faith in God and in yourselves small enough, so you can, with God's help provide what God wants you to give?" I think that is what we are all called to do.
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 6, Book of Common Prayer, Page 230).
O God, the creator and preserver of all, we humbly beseech you for all sorts and conditions of people; that you would be pleased to make your ways known unto them, your saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for your holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by your good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to your fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; that it may please you to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. (Prayer for All Sorts and Conditions, Book of Common Prayer, Page 814).
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, Page 815).
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