I Believe; Help My Unbelief
- davidwperk
- Aug 8
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Friday, August 8, 2025
Proper 13, the week of the eighth Sunday After Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:
Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; 18and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so. . . .
if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.’ 23Jesus said to him, ‘If you are able! —All things can be done for the one who believes.’ 24Immediately the father of the child cried out, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’
(You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.)
Daily Office Lectionary readings (BCP, 978)
AM Psalm 88; PM Psalm 91, 92
2 Samuel 12:1-14; Acts 19:21-41; Mark 9:14-29
Today we celebrate the Feast of Dominic. (See below.)
David's Reflections
Mark tells stories with such vivid detail and realism. In this instance, while Jesus was away on the mount of transfiguration a man had brought his afflicted son to the disciples for healing. Their prayers for him were without effect. When Jesus returned, he expressed consternation that the disciples had not been able to heal him.
In a poignant conversation, the father appealed to Jesus for help. Jesus told him that all things were possible to the one who had faith. Don't read past that without stopping. All things are possible to the one who believes, who trusts, who expects. All things are possible to you if you have faith. All things are possible to me if I have faith. Bring the biggest challenge, hurdle, need, place of caughtness to mind. All things are possible to the one who believes. How would my life differ if I lived into that conviction more fully?
Caution: faith does not equate with magical thinking, assuming that if you hold your “spiritual mouth” right magical things will happen or if you throw salt over your shoulder it will bring good luck.Faith does not mean that I can impose my will on God if I grunt hard enough spiritually.
Well, the father anticipated my response. He cried out, "I believe. Help my unbelief." Yes, I, too, believe in Jesus. I, too, believe that his healing and delivering love can do all things. But, something within me hesitates before such a momentous promise, before such immeasurable possibilities. This father had never seen his son free of his malady (probably epilepsy). His mind and heart were having trouble stretching around that possibility.
Perhaps my own heart is struggling with the vision of a new reality that lies just on the other side of faith. So, I am hesitating, like someone hesitating before a gap in the trail or before a stream before leaping to the other side. This story gives me a respite, because the hesitating faith of this father was sufficient. The son was healed. The father's spiritual honesty was itself an act of faith, to disclose his hesitation was to trust Jesus with it as well as with his son.
It helps me to think of the relationship of doubt to faith as resembling the relationship of fear to courage. One who acts with courage does not lack fear; rather, that person pushes through fear to act with courage. One who has faith does not lack doubt; rather, they push through doubt to act with faith. I am indebted to Paul Tillich for this analogy; and, I’m no doubt oversimplifying his thought from his classic, The Dynamics of Faith, but I hope that oversimplification proves helpful to you. *
Could it be that my hesitation signals me about just how large is the challenge, just how huge is the leap? Perhaps hesitation signals me that I am on the right track, that my faith is active, that resolution and deliverance are near. It is mine to keep trusting and to keep sharing my hesitation with Jesus. Patrick Overton's poem puts it vividly.
Faith
When you walk to the edge of all the light you have
and take that first step into the darkness of the unknown,
you must believe that one of two things will happen:
There will be something solid for you to stand upon,
or, you will be taught how to fly+
* Paul Tillich, Dynamics of Faith (New York: Harper, 1957).
+Patrick Overton, http://www.patrickoverton.com/poster.html
The Collect of the Day, Proper 13, the eighth Sunday after Pentecost
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 231)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Dominic, preacher, friar, missionary (died 6 August 1221 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Dominic
Almighty God, grant unto your people a hunger for your Word and an urgent longing to share your Gospel, that, like your servant Dominic, we might labor to bring the whole world to the knowledge and love of you as you are revealed in your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Note: Dominican Meister Eckhart's mysticism has profoundly impacted our practice of mystical spirituality and the course of western philosophy is . (died ca 1327/28 CE). https://www.britannica.com/biography/Meister-Eckhart
A Collect for Fridays
Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies' sake. Amen. (BCP, 123)
A Collect for the Presence of Christ
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen. (BCP, 124)
A Collect for Mission
Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 816-817)
Daily Office Gospel, Mark 9:14-29
14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. 15When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. 16He asked them, ‘What are you arguing about with them?’ 17Someone from the crowd answered him, ‘Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; 18and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.’ 19He answered them, ‘You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.’ 20And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21Jesus asked the father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. 22It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.’ 23Jesus said to him, ‘If you are able! —All things can be done for the one who believes.’ 24Immediately the father of the child cried out, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ 25When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!’ 26After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’ 27But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. 28When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ 29He said to them, ‘This kind can come out only through prayer.’
Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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