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Moving Mountains
A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said, “Lord,
have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely; often
he falls into fire, and often into water. I brought him to your
disciples, but they could not cure him.” Jesus said in reply, “O
faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How
long will I endure you? Bring the boy here to me.” Matthew
17:14–17
Before this encounter, Jesus had sent His disciples out two by two
to preach, heal, and cast out demons in His name, preparing the way
for His own visits. They returned amazed at how the power of God
had worked through them. They preached with authority, commanded
demons, and healed the sick.
In today’s Gospel, a man brings his demon-afflicted son to these
same disciples for help, but this time they are unable to heal him.
Jesus had gone up the mountain with Peter, James, and John where
the three apostles witnessed His Transfiguration, while the other
nine remained below.
As Jesus returns, He is approached by a desperate father who kneels
in reverence and pleads for mercy. The boy is described in Greek as
selēniazetai, “moonstruck,” often translated “lunatic,” but
more accurately referring to epileptic-like seizures. The word
reflects the ancient belief that the moon could influence behavior.
However, in this case, the Gospel makes clear the cause is demonic.
The violence of the boy’s symptoms—falling into fire and
water—underscores the destructive aim of the evil one: to harm and
destroy what God has made good.
Jesus’ response is striking: “O faithless and perverse generation,
how long will I be with you?” This is a divine lament. His sorrow
is not directed solely at the disciples but at the broader
spiritual blindness of the people. Though the disciples had
previously cast out demons, something had gone wrong this time.
Jesus’ words reveal the disciples’ lack of spiritual depth and
persevering faith. His frustration flows from love and a longing
for His people to grow into the faith they are called to
live.
Still, Jesus does not withhold His power. He commands, “Bring the
boy here to me,” and with a word, rebukes the demon. The child is
cured instantly. What the disciples could not do by their own
strength, Jesus accomplishes with ease. He alone delivers from
evil, and He does so with divine compassion.
Later, when the disciples ask why they failed, Jesus tells them it
was “because of your little faith”—that is, a lack of true trust in
God working through them. He then offers a powerful truth: “If you
have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this
mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will
be impossible for you.”
Do you long to cast out demons or heal the sick? Such charisms are
not given to all, but every disciple is called to move
mountains through faith. This is no magical power by which you can
enact your own will. Moving mountains means cooperating with the
will of God by bringing about His plan on earth as in Heaven.
God always wills what is good, and He accomplishes it through those
whose faith is strong enough to unite their hearts to His. The key
is detachment from our will, unwavering trust in Him, and a love
that seeks only His glory.
Reflect today on the quality and depth of your faith. Do you trust
more in God’s power than in your own efforts? Are you willing to
surrender your desires so His will may be done through you? Even a
mustard seed of humble, trusting, selfless
faith can accomplish what seems impossible when it is united to the
God for whom nothing is impossible. He wills to do great things
through each one of us, if we but let Him. Pray for the faith that
moves mountains, for when we see mountains move by allowing God to
use us, we will be amazed and humble before His greatness.
God all-powerful, You desire to do great things through us—to
move mountains and remove every obstacle to grace—so that Your most
glorious and perfect will may be fulfilled. I pray for this depth
of faith, so that through me, You may touch many lives and draw me
into Your glorious and eternal Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: The Feeding of the Five Thousand, by Julius Schnorr von
Carolsfeld
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