Prayer in response to these times (sermon)

Written for a church in Heysham, UK.

Scripture reading: Mark 9:17–31


Our Gospel passage today is read by many churches during the season of Lent. I chose it for us to look at because I think it might be helpful for us in these challenging circumstances we face.

A boy has been living with an unclean spirit. The boy’s father brings him to Jesus’ disciples, who are unable to cast the spirit out. Disappointed, the father sees Jesus approaching and asks him for help.

What terrible things this spirit has done to the son! ‘Often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.’ This spirit desperately tries to ‘steal, kill and destroy’ the life of this child, but Jesus has come that he ‘may have life, and have it to the full’ (John 10:10).

When the father tells Jesus that the disciples have been unable to cast the spirit out, Jesus says, ‘O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?’ It seems Jesus is disappointed in the disciples’ lack of faith, which has made them unable to cast out the spirit. After Jesus casts out the spirit, the disciples privately ask Jesus why they had failed. He tells them such a task could only have been done by prayer and fasting. Perhaps they had not been praying as they ought.

I wonder if there is a word for us in here somewhere. We find ourselves in a similar – though not identical – situation with the coronavirus epidemic. On one hand, the virus is not a spirit; it is a biological organism. God may miraculously remove the virus in one instant, but he may also guide the knowledge and skill of doctors and nurses, and the natural effects of medicine, to overcome it. Yet, like the unclean spirit, the virus steals, kills and destroys human life, bringing chaos and despair upon us.

Perhaps we can learn from Jesus that our response must be rooted in prayer.

How timely Jesus’ words to his disciples are in this season of Lent, when many Christians already devote attention to prayer and fasting! Ironically, one may see our self-isolating as a kind of fast: a fast from nonessentials, a fast from our usual business and routines, which can help us to focus on the one thing that is needed (Luke 10:42).

It seems we are in this struggle against Covid-19 for the long haul. Like an athlete preparing for a marathon, we need to get fitter and stronger – physically and emotionally, but especially spiritually. We do this through prayer.

Since most churches have stopped meeting for worship temporarily, we need spiritual communion with Christ even more, to ensure that we are well-nourished by his healing presence.

Also, many of us will be called upon to help our neighbours in a variety of ways. Like the disciples, maybe our help will be ineffective if we are not first praying. Without regular prayer, we might burn out, collapsing before we get to the finish line.

Sometimes prayer is the last thing I want to do, even when I know how essential it is. But if I want to maintain a good relationship with my family members or friends, for example, I must stay in touch with them regularly. Prayer is staying in touch with God. It is our lifeline, our connection with the source of our life. Without a growing relationship with God, we lose clear vision, guidance and the strength to keep going on the Way of Christ.

Prayer is like continually adding compost and rich nutrients to soil, while also removing weeds, stones and rubbish. From such a foundation, plants can flourish and bear fruit.

Where can we begin? Perhaps with the father’s confession of his lack of faith, which might resemble our own: ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’ This is enough for Jesus, so it should be enough for us. And even if we have been praying for many years, do we not all have room for further deepening our prayer lives?

If we find ourselves lacking words, we can turn to the Psalms or the Lord’s prayer. We can pray a simple prayer again and again, resembling the request of the father: ‘Lord, have mercy on us and help us.’ We can start praying little by little at first and then grow it so that this conversation and communion with God encompasses our whole life. As St Paul encourages us, we strive to ‘pray without ceasing’ (1 Thess. 5:17).

As we bring the needs of the world and our own need for healing before Jesus, may he fill us with faith, hope and love. May he live in us, and we live in him, more and more so that in this time of isolation we find that we are not alone, but in deeper communion with Christ and with each other.