Fourth Sunday of the Great Fast: St. John Climacus. Octoechos Tone 3. Our Holy Mother Matrona of Thessalonica
Hebrews 6:13-20; Ephesians 5:9-19; Mark 9:17-31; Matthew 4:25-5:12
Great Fast Day 28. Matins Resurrectional Gospel 11; The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated today.
Read Mark 9:17-31
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
“I asked your disciples to cast it [the spirit] out, and they were not able.”
The father brings his son to his disciples for help but they could not cast out the spirit from the boy. This spirit had been with the boy since childhood – meaning a long time. So what does the father do? He goes to straight to Jesus.
Sometimes we may ask for emotional, physical or spiritual assistance from one of the clergy and find that the help provided was not satisfactory. We should remember what the father of the son did? He did not complain. He was not discouraged. He went straight to Jesus. This may almost sound like Protestant spirituality but in some cases it may be a good antidote against discouragement or disappointment.