ACC ~ Mark 9 v24

EMERGENT FAITH SEEKING MATURITY

AUGUSTINE: In saying, “When the Son of Man shall come, shall he find faith upon the earth?” our Lord spoke of that faith which is fully matured, which is so seldom found on earth. The church’s faith is full, for who would come here if there were no fullness of faith? And whose faith when fully matured would not move mountains? [1] Look at the apostles themselves, who would not have left all they had, trodden under foot this world’s hope, and followed the Lord, if they had not had proportionally great faith. And yet if they had already experienced a completely matured faith, they would have not said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” [2] Rather we find here an emerging faith, which is not yet full faith, in that father who when he had presented to the Lord his son to be cured of an evil spirit and was asked whether he believed, answered, “Lord, I believe, help me in my unbelief.” [3] “Lord,” says he, “I believe.” “I believe”: therefore there was faith; but “help me in my unbelief”: therefore there was not full faith. [4] SERMONS ON NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS 65. [5]

[1] Cf. Mt 17:20; 21:21.

[2] Lk 17:5.

[3] Mk 9:24.

[4] Cf. Heb 10:22.

[5] Cetedoc 0284, 115.38.665.42; NPNF 1 6:454*; cf. WSA 3 4:199, Sermon 115.1.

PRAY TO BELIEVE, BELIEVE TO PRAY

AUGUSTINE: Where faith fails, prayer perishes. For who prays for that in which he does not believe? … So then in order that we may pray, let us believe, [1] and let us pray that this same faith by which we pray may not falter. SERMONS ON NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS 65.1. [2]

[1] Cf. Mt 21:22; Mk 11:24.

[2] Cetedoc 0284, 115.38.655.19; NPNF 1 6:454*; cf. WSA 3 4:198, Sermon 115.1. When we pray to believe, we pray that the will itself will not waver in faith; in this way prayer and faith are intrinsically linked acts.

GRACE TO ASSIST FAITH

JOHN CASSIAN: Seeing that his faith was being driven by the waves of unbelief on the rocks which would cause a fearful shipwreck, [1] he asks of the Lord an aid to his faith, saying “Lord, help me in my unbelief.” [2] So thoroughly did the apostles and those who live in the gospel realize that everything which is good is brought to completion by the aid of the Lord, and not imagine that they could preserve their faith unharmed by their own strength or free will, that they prayed that it might be helped and granted to them by the Lord. [3] CONFERENCE OF ABBOT PAPHNUTIUS 16. [4]

[1] Cf. 1 Tim 1:19.

[2] Mk 9:24.

[3] Cf. Lk 17:5.

[4] Cetedoc 0512, 3.16.88.22; NPNF 2 11:327.

EVEN THE FAITHLESS RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF FAITH

CAESARIUS OF ARLES: So great is the virtue of faith that even those who refuse to keep it still presume to praise it. Truly deservedly is faith extolled, for without it no good work is ever begun or completed. SERMONS 12. [1]

[1] Cetedoc 1008, 103.12.1.8; FC 31:67.