Mark 9:21 — Community Reflections

MARK 9:21 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.”

Jesus asked the boy's father, how long has he been like this? From childhood, he answered — the question about duration is the most pastoral element in the exorcism narrative. Jesus asks the father how long — not to gather clinical information but to engage the father's grief. From childhood communicates a lifetime of suffering: the boy has never known life without this affliction. The duration intensifies both the suffering and the father's hope.

Church Fathers on Mark 9:21

After He had shewn His glory in the mount to the three disciples, He returns to the other disciples, who had not come up with Him into the mount; wherefore it is said, 'And when He came to His disciples, He saw a great multitude about them, and the Scribes questioning with them.'
Theophylact · 11th century

But there is no peace for man under the sun; envy is ever slaying the little ones, and lightnings strike the tops of the great mountains. Of all those who run to the Church, some as the multitudes come in faith to learn, others, as the Scribes, with envy and pride.
Pseudo-Jerome · 5th century

In all cases, the difference between the mind of the Scribes and of the people ought to be observed; for the Scribes are never said to have shewn any devotion, faith, humility, and reverence, but as soon as the Lord was come, the whole multitude was greatly amazed and feared, and ran up to Him, and saluted Him; wherefore there follows, 'And running to Him, saluted Him.'
Bede · 8th century · in Marc., 3, 38

Read all 26 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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