Commentary on the Gospel of
The father in today’s Gospel is one of my favorite people in Scripture. His love for his son and his faith in God inspires me. His life must have been so difficult. Every day he faced the pain and anxiety of his son’s illness. He must have been exhausted by the need for constant vigilance to make sure that his son did not catch on fire or drown.
Despite his exhaustion and fear – or maybe because of it – he brings his son to Jesus’ disciples, and they fail to heal his son. Though he must have been disappointed, he persevered. He turns to Jesus and made a prayer that we can each make our own: I do believe, help my unbelief.
Too often I feel overwhelmed by the burdens of life, not sure if I can get everything done and hold on to faith. But in spite of our fear, doubt, and pain, Jesus is always there for us, as he was for the father, ready to bring us healing and hope.
