Faith and Acts of Power: Re-reading & Re-situating Matthew 17:14-20

 

Jesus driving out the evil spirit, while the disciples are found with little faith

Faith and Acts of Power

Edwinraj, SDB

Gospel Passage (Mt 17:14-20)

18^th Ordinary Time

07 August 2021

14 When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, 15 and said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him." 17 Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me." 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20 He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, 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; and nothing will be impossible for you."

Re-reading & re-situating

The scene makes it clear that Jesus is angry with his disciples. The Gospel writer puts it in a nut-shell, the deep distress of Jesus of the forthcoming passion and crucifixion on the cross. Just before this incident (of driving out of the evil spirit), we see the Transfiguration of Jesus. The disciples have already started to think in human instinct. And Jesus rebuked them.

 

A question then arises within the group about the prophet Elijah concerning the Scribes. Jesus replied sarcastically of the murder of John the Baptist that took place recently. Jesus continues the same topic even after curing the epileptic.

 

He addresses to his disciples about his following unjust death. All these surely would have caused an enormous pain in Jesus’ heart. The disciples in other hand were lethargic in their ways. For this reason, Jesus condemns them. Another reason for Jesus’ irritation could be: After the Transfiguration, Jesus warns the disciples, not to unveil the mystery of Christ until the appointed time. This was also the period in which Jews too waited for the redeemer, while the disciples found the redeemer (in the Political sense to deliver them from the hands of the Romans).

 

Might be, the disciples would have not proclaimed vividly, but for certain extent there could
have been a serious discussion (of Political Messiah) within the community of the disciples. Even after having received the ministry to heal, they (disciples) were deprived of healing the epileptic after the event of Transfiguration. For a while the disciples were exuberant of their activity. And finally forgot the necessity of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ that was yet to come.

 

In order to pin point their ignorance, Jesus condemns them as men of little faith. He wants them to behold the eye of faith.