“O faithless generation,” says Jesus, “How long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? How long shall I put up with all of you?” For like this father, a faithless generation is not inclined to be humble, or to give thanks, or to ask, as one asking for mercy. This—Beloved—we must do: recognize that it is we who are the debtors, not Jesus. And if He will forgive us, it can only be by His mercy; indeed, as we know, by actually paying our debt for us. And so, He rebukes the generation of those who were there, along with the father, and—probably also—His disciples, and, indeed, our generation today, including all of us, for thinking such folly that He owes us anything. Even so, Beloved, although we are entirely unworthy of it, He came to help. Even though we are weighed down with misery and evil spirits and with—above all—sinful, foolish hearts, He came to save us. And, He came to make us faithful, that we might cry out, as we should have, in the first place, “Lord, have mercy.” O thanks be to God that Christ, our Lord, truly is merciful and compassionate.
Readings:
Old Testament: Numbers 16:20-35
Epistle: James 5:13-20
Holy Gospel: Mark 9:17-29
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