Accomplishment and Arrogance

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary illuminate a challenge to people who have acquired specialized knowledge or ability. A letter of James asks the wise and those with understanding if they are giving witness to a good life by applying their wisdom with simplicity, in peace and mercy without hypocrisy or partiality. Friar Jude Winkler indicates that some learned people may use their special knowledge to control, divide and "lord it over" others. The gift of wisdom and ability is to be used in service. The disciples, in the episode from the Gospel of Mark, bring a boy to him who is exhibiting behaviour of one possessed. Jesus perceives that perhaps the inability of His disciples to heal this boy is routed in the absence of faith, or trust in the will of God, in the events so far. Jesus responds to the doubts of the father of the boy by challenging the lack of faith of the man. The response of the father is our proper response. "Help my unbelief!". We live in a society of right and wrong, ready and not prepared, good and evil. We look to have the right amount of faith, charity, mercy and forgiveness. Am I there yet? is often the cry of our times. On the other side we seek credit and results after minimal efforts. The father breaks free from the attempt to determine if he has sufficient faith to pass with the movement toward God seeking mercy and grace. This is our position before the Divine. God loves and is Present to us. In the position of communion with God, we are healed. Our arrogance, which may be rooted in our special knowledge or ability, is an obstacle to being a witness to the Love of God working in us. We listen to Jesus tells us about prayer.