“O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you?" (Mark 9: 19 NABRE)
Jesus uses a tough language to describe people of His generation. They have no faith. They are riddled with unbelief and doubt. He identified this as their core problem.
What are the symptoms of faithlessness, unbelief and doubt?
#1. No Prayer
#2. No Church
#3. No Sunday Rest
#4. Ignorance of the Scriptures
#5. Dependence on money for security, etc, etc, etc.
Do you recognize our generation? Pope Benedict XVI said that lack of faith is the fundamental problem of this generation.
Listen to what Jesus says about Faith: "Everything is possible to one who has faith.” (Mark 9: 23)
When the man who provoked the conversation heard the above, he cried out: “I do believe, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9: 24) A great prayer for everyone.
Later on the same day, the disciples asked Jesus: “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?”
Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.” (Mark 9: 28 - 29 NLT)
We notice here the tight integration between faith and prayer. One cannot exist without the other. Prayer is a vital necessity for the life of faith. (Cf Luke 18: 1) And Faith is the secret ingredient for all the great heroes of the Bible. (Hebrews 11:13, 39)
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