“I believe, help me in my unbelief”. Reflections from Mark’s Gospel 9:14-32

 

In this episode, Sean looks at a story where Jesus delivers a boy from a demonic influence. But as is so often the case in Mark’s Gospel, there’s a deeper symbolic meaning to what is going on. The disciples’ failure to deal with the situation, the boy’s Father’s fragile faith that reaches out, all plays into an unfolding picture of what costly discipleship looks like. In a reflection that recalls the stance of God’s Squad’s Melbourne chapter founding president, John Smith, on matters of injustice, cries of desperation from U2, and the call of Dietrich Bonhoeffer to push through the struggles, he wrestles with the contradictions in his own heart. 

As the original characters in this story suffered at the hands of a brutal Roman Empire and exclusivity of a religious institution, and the original readers of this Gospel faced persecution in Rome, Sean asks of today, how long must we sit defeated in the face of oppressive powers, and money grabbing grifters who trample the poor. How long must we sustain and polish the gold of religious institutions, or tolerate wrapping a gun brandishing Jesus up in a flag, or support structures that carry out genocide to satisfy greed today? How can we stay awake to the things that matter? How can we be active participants in the prayer asking, ‘Your Kingdom come, on earth, as it is in heaven’. Do we want to be that kind of disciple of Jesus?

‘I believe, but please Lord, help me in my unbelief, that life can be radically different.’ Sean Stillman is God’s Squad’s International President and member of GSCMC South Wales, UK. ————————————————————— You can also read the relevant bible passage, Mark 9:14-32 online at: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/... You can also subscribe to this series playlist on YouTube here:    • Marks Gospel Series   and also find 150+ additional bible reflections and stories, from various God’s Squad members around the world. _________________________________________ This presentation, and many of the previous and following ones in this series that Sean will present, includes references, quotes and research from the following sources; Meeting God in Mark, Rowan Williams, 2014. Binding the Strong Man, Ched Myers, 1998, (2008 edition) Mark, Paideia Commentary on the New Testament, Mary Ann Beavis, 2011. The Gospel of Mark, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, William L. Lane, 1974. The Gospel According to St. Mark, Black’s New Testament Commentaries, Morna D. Hooker, 1981, (2003 edition) Life on the Road, Athol Gill, 1992. Mark, New International Biblical Commentary, Larry W. Hurtado, 1983, (1998 edition). Mark, Tyndale New Testament Commentary, R. Alan Cole, 1961, (1989 edition) * U2 lyrics quoted are from ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’, (Hewson, Evans, Mullins, Clayton), 1983. * Dietrich Bonhoeffer quote from: Mark, Paideia Commentary on the New Testament, Mary Ann Beavis, 2011, p141. —————————————————————————- See www.godssquad.org or www.gscmc.com for more info about God's Squad Christian Motorcycle Club.