because it was a death of love and of atonement for sin. "And Jesus came and touched them, and said to them Arise and fear not. And they, lifting up their eyes, saw no one but only Jesus." This was the end of the vision. As far as its immediate effects went, it was intended exclusively for these Apostles. Therefore as their spirits grew calmer with His gentle presence, Jesus, discoursing about His future resurrec tion from death and His permanent transfiguration into His spiritualized body, cautioned them not to tell of this vision till His resurrection had made the whole world the repository of His secret; though we can hardly believe that He meant that their feilow-Apostles should not know it. But they were dazed and puzzled, and although they kept the word to themselves. they questioned together what that should mea When He shall be risen from the dead?" They asked Him also about the belief in the coming of Elias before His own full triumph; but He recalled His former teaching, that Elias had already come in the person of John the Baptist; and as God's enemies had treated the Baptist so would they treat the Messias. And it was thus that they passed the night together upon the mountain. CHAPTER XLVII. THE LUNATIC BOY. Matt. xvii. 14-20; Mark ix. 13-28; HE following day, as Jesus came down with Peter, James, and John to join the rest of the disciples, He found them surrounded by a great multitude of people, and a hot dispute going on between them and certain Scribes. Whether it was impatience at His long absence during the transfiguration, or that His disciples had been threatening the people with His anger, we know not; we merely know "that all the people seeing Jesus were astonished and struck with fear, and running they saluted Him, and He asked them: What do you question among you?" The trouble was the failure of the disciples to deliver a boy from the power of the devil who had crazed him, and the consequent scoffs and jeers of the Scribes. "And behold a man among the crowd, falling down on his knees before Him, cried out saying: Master, I beseech Thee look upon my son, for he is my only one. Lord have pity upon my son, for he is a lunatic." The unhappy father then told his sad story: "For he falleth often into the fire, and often into the water, and lo! a dumb spirit seizeth him, and teareth him. And I desired Thy disciples to cast him out, and they could not." Here, then, was the difficulty; the Apostles of Jesus were not equal, as yet, to their vocation, nor were the people ready to place faith in them: hence the victory of the Scribes, their mocking laughter, their scorn and disdain. "Then Jesus answered and said: O unbe "I DO BELIEVE, LORD, HELP MY UNBE LIEF. And behold a man among the crowd, falling down on his knees before him, cried out, saying: Master, I beseech thee look upon my son, because he is my only one; Lord, have pity upon my son, for he is a lunatic, and suffereth much; for he falleth often into the fire, and often into the water, and lo! a dumb spirit seizeth him, and he suddenly crieth out, and he throweth him down, and teareth him, so that he foameth; and bruising him, he hardly departeth from him. And I desired thy disciples to cast him out, and they could not. Then Jesus answered and said: O unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall Ï be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him unto me. And they lieving and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you?" One of the hardest trials of our Saviour was the company of His dull followers-must it not have been now a yet greater pain than usual, since He was fresh from the company of Moses and Elias? "And Jesus asked his father, How long a time is it since this hath happened him? But he said: From his infancy. But if Thou canst do anything, help us, having compassion on us." There was an accent of doubt in this answer making discord in the mind of our Saviour: “If Thou canst do anything." But the him; but if thou canst do anything, help lack of faith here was palliated by brought him. And as he was coming to him, and when he had seen him, immediately the spirit troubled him, and being thrown down upon the ground, he rolled about foaming. And he asked his father: How long time is it since this hath happened unto him? But he said: From his infancy. And oftentimes hath he cast him into the fire and into waters to destroy And Jesus us, having compassion on us. the failure of the disciples in the case and by the scoffs of the Scribes. The question and answer following are noble examples of kindly treatment of a perplexed soul on the one hand, and of honest doubt on the other. Our Saviour took up the up, and restored him to his father; and the doubting word: "If Thou canst," child was cured from that hour. And when he was come into the house, then came the disciples to Jesus secretly and said: Why could not we cast him out? Jesus said to them: Because of your unbelief. For amen I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to and gave it back with double force: "And Jesus saith to them: If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And immedi this mountain: Remove from hence hither, ately the father of the boy, crying and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible to you. And he said to them: This kind can go out by nothing but by prayer and fasting. And all were astonished at the mighty power of God. out with tears, said: I do believe, Lord, help my unbelief." Many a worthy soul can make no other act of faith. It is not perfect, but it is enough to begin with. |