Knowing The Word in Luke 9:37-43, Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit

Coming down from the mountain, Jesus discovers his disciples had not been able to heal a child. Why are the disciples not able to do what they did before? As he exorcises the demon, it attempts to maintain its dominance over the boy. Jesus’ supremacy is evident on the mountaintop and below on the plain.

37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. 40 And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” 41 Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42 While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 And all were astonished at the majesty of God.

Prayer:

We beg you, Lord, to help and defend us.

Deliver the oppressed,

Pity the insignificant,

Raise the fallen,

Show yourself to the needy,

Heal the sick,

Bring back those of your people who have gone astray,

Feed the hungry,

Lift up the weak,

Take off the prisoners’ chains.

May every nation come to know that you are God alone,

That Jesus is your Son,

That we are your people, the sheep of your pasture.

St. Clement of Rome