There is so much goodness and purity in the world! But it is always at war with evil. We may often wonder if the battle is futile.

Toward the end of Jesus' ministry he sent his disciples out to preach, heal, and cast out demons. We are his disciples now. We have been sent out to preach, heal, and cast out demons! How do we do this?

Both Mark and Matthew recount a time when the disciples came back confused, asking Jesus, “Why could we not drive it out?” We get two responses.

We can be good people, live good lives. We can join with other like-minded people in community once a week in prayer and fellowship. But Jesus refers to prayer as more than just a weekly physical presence at church or occasional plea for help. The scriptures tell us he retreats often to pray.

Jesus points to prayer and faith intertwined. This prayer is insistent, persistent, coming from a place of true and pure grieving for our families, neighbors, our world. This prayer does not come out of hatred or judgement, rather out of love, love for every soul, even those we have deemed evil in our eyes. This prayer is unceasing, heart, mind, body, and soul joined with one another and with God!

Mourning is one of the beatitudes. It speaks to the need for prayer. How can we mourn if we sit in judgment, or worse, are hateful? Mourning is filled with compassion and love. And yet mourning in the Christian sense does not lead to defeatism or depression, rather it allows us to suffer in solidarity with one another and with Christ. Mourning reminds us of the mercy of God and allows us to trust in his plan.

Pray - alone or in groups Use prayers written by others or those that flow from your heart. And grow in faith!