NOTES for Mar 9:14-29
Immediately after the Transfiguration, Christ encounters His bewildered disciples, who had been unable to cast out a demon. Why did they fail? Had they not been given authority over unclean spirits (see Mk 6:7)? Perhaps the disciples were arguing with the scribes as they tried to explain the reason for their failure. On hearing what had happened, Jesus utters one of the sharpest rebukes in the Gospel: "O faithless generation! How long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?"
We may be surprised by the sudden bitterness in Jesus' words. To whom is this reproach addressed? The disciples probably took these words personally, for they asked Jesus why they had been unable to do anything. Does this reproach mean that Jesus had ceased to love? No, His love is infinite; but it is also demanding, and therefore He sternly rebukes unbelief and unfaithfulness. Love does not exclude severity.
The boy's father's faith had been shaken by the disciples' failure. We often repeat: "Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief." We lack faith, and we cannot believe without the help of the One in whom we believe, or want to believe.
Christ reminds the disciples that without prayer and fasting, without complete concentration on Him and detachment from other concerns, they cannot cast out demons. On another occasion He will say, "Without Me you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5).
We can do nothing for the Lord without a living connection with Him, without faith and prayer. May the Lord help us always to pray and believe! "Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief."