And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them and scholars arguing with them.
And immediately all the crowd, having seen him, were greatly surprised –
and hurrying over greeted him.
And he asked them ‘What are you arguing about with them?’
And someone from the crowd answered him :
‘ Teacher, I have brought my son to you;
he has a spirit that makes him mute.
And wherever it seizes him
it dashes him to the ground,
and he foams at the mouth
and grinds his teeth
and he becomes stiff.
And I asked your disciples to cast it out,
and they were not powerful. ‘
So he replied:
‘O faithless generation!
How much longer will I be with you?
How much longer will I put up with you?
Bring him to me. ‘
And they brought him to him.
And when the spirit saw him
it immediately threw him into convulsions,
and falling on the ground,
he rolled around,
foaming at the mouth.
And he asked the father ‘How long since has this been happening to him?
And he said
‘From childhood.
It has often thrown him into the fire
and into the waters
to destroy him.
But if you can, help us,
have pity on us.’
Then Jesus said to him
‘“If you can?!”
– all things are possible, to those who believe.’
Immediately the father of the child cried out :
‘I believe, help my unbelief.’
Jesus seeing that the crowd was gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it
‘Mute and deaf spirit, I order you,
leave him
and never enter him.’
And crying out,
it left,
throwing him into many convulsions.
And he was like dead,
so that many said that he had died.
But Jesus taking him by his hand, raised him up and he stood up.
And when he had entered his house, his disciples asked him privately
‘Why could we not cast it out?’
And he said to them
‘This kind can never be cast out except by prayer.’
Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God,blessed now and for ever.
Amen
St Anselm