Post-feast of the Exaltation of the Cross; Holy Great-Martyr Eustathius and those with him (276-82); Holy Martyrs and Confessors for the Faith, the Grand Prince Michael, and His Nobleman Theodore, Wonderworkers of Chernihiv (1245).
Ephesians 3:8-21; Mark 11:23-26.
Read Mark 11:23-26
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Jesus teaches His disciples that, “whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mk. 11:24). Whoever “does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mk. 11:23). This promise of Jesus is extremely encouraging! However, how difficult it is to have faith! Recall the man who asked Jesus to heal his son who was possessed by a mute spirit which, “whenever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid” (Mk. 9:18). The disciples were not able to exorcise that evil spirit, and so the father requests of Jesus: “But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (Mk. 9:22). Jesus answers Him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mk. 9:23). The father immediately cried out with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mk. 9:24).
We must have faith in God. This does not simply mean that we need faith “that God exists.” Rather, we must have faith that God is a loving Father to us, that whenever we ask God for good things, He will give them to us. For, “if a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Lk. 11:11-13).
If we look deep into our hearts, perhaps we see “mountains” standing in the way of our relationship with God. These mountains may leave us enslaved to our sins or prove to be so daunting that we could never imagine them disappearing. If, by faith, we can ask God with confidence to move a physical mountain into the sea, then, by faith, we can ask God with confidence to move the spiritual “mountains” in our heart that impede our ability to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit that He so freely offers to us.
Let us pray today for an increase in faith. Do not be afraid to exclaim to Jesus with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” while we ask for the mountains in our hearts to be cast into the sea. While we pray, let us also remember how necessary it is to forgive those who have trespassed against us so that God may forgive us our trespasses.
Bible References