http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2010/08/04/why-could-we-not-cast-him-out-this-is-how-you-obtain-belief-10th-sunday-of-pentecost-2010-text-homily/ McKinney TX Homilies, scripture commentary, spiritual reflections Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:35:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2010/08/04/why-could-we-not-cast-him-out-this-is-how-you-obtain-belief-10th-sunday-of-pentecost-2010-text-homily/comment-page-1/#comment-4150 Meg Lark Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:05:37 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=2400#comment-4150 Father, you have no idea what a relief it is to read this kind of thing, after 13 years of immersion in mainline Protestantism, with its Social-Action gospel.  Thank you. Father, you have no idea what a relief it is to read this kind of thing, after 13 years of immersion in mainline Protestantism, with its Social-Action gospel.  Thank you.

]]> http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2010/08/04/why-could-we-not-cast-him-out-this-is-how-you-obtain-belief-10th-sunday-of-pentecost-2010-text-homily/comment-page-1/#comment-4149 Deborah Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:13:26 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=2400#comment-4149 <em>Father, Bless, </em>   But I am a child of the age of instant gratification.....everything in my physical life comes to me at the push of a button, the flip of a switch, the turn of a knob....food, water, warmth, cool, entertainment.....And now I am being told that my problems will not be solved without much labor and the effort of prayer, fasting and learning to love my neighbor!? <em>What kind of answer is that?!</em>   I'm sorry, Father, while I am being somewhat facetious, it is the way I know that my flesh, deep down, really feels.  It is the way I think in the subconscious depths of my mind and heart.  I want to be rid of these uncomfortable, difficult and painful feelings and situations---<em>and I want to be rid of them quickly and easily.</em>  "Lord, give me patience---<em>now!</em>":)       I want my demons cast out--and, like this father, I want my children to be delivered from the evil spirits that cast them into fire and water, as well.  But I must be patient and diligent in doing the things that must be done to drive them out.  It is indeed our faith and belief in Jesus Christ that will deliver us.  But the faith and belief that is needed to be delivered is given to us through the labor and effort of prayer and fasting and is manifested in our love for our neighbor.  This love is more than the emotional (and fickle) love of man but <em>the active Love of God in doing what is right.</em>  And knowing what is right can only be truly known through prayer and fasting and the other means that have been provided to enable us to come to know the mind and will of God.   To be delivered I must pray and fast in order to know how to love my neighbor so that I can achieve the faith to drive out the demons, <em>through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and the help of His saints</em>--from myself and those I love. Father, Bless,

 
But I am a child of the age of instant gratification…..everything in my physical life comes to me at the push of a button, the flip of a switch, the turn of a knob….food, water, warmth, cool, entertainment…..And now I am being told that my problems will not be solved without much labor and the effort of prayer, fasting and learning to love my neighbor!? What kind of answer is that?!
 
I'm sorry, Father, while I am being somewhat facetious, it is the way I know that my flesh, deep down, really feels.  It is the way I think in the subconscious depths of my mind and heart.  I want to be rid of these uncomfortable, difficult and painful feelings and situations—and I want to be rid of them quickly and easily.  "Lord, give me patience—now!":)
 
 
 
I want my demons cast out–and, like this father, I want my children to be delivered from the evil spirits that cast them into fire and water, as well.  But I must be patient and diligent in doing the things that must be done to drive them out.  It is indeed our faith and belief in Jesus Christ that will deliver us.  But the faith and belief that is needed to be delivered is given to us through the labor and effort of prayer and fasting and is manifested in our love for our neighbor.  This love is more than the emotional (and fickle) love of man but the active Love of God in doing what is right.  And knowing what is right can only be truly known through prayer and fasting and the other means that have been provided to enable us to come to know the mind and will of God.
 
To be delivered I must pray and fast in order to know how to love my neighbor so that I can achieve the faith to drive out the demons, through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and the help of His saints–from myself and those I love.

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