A marvelous story is told by the synoptic gospel writers about a boy who was possessed by an evil spirit. His father was concerned sufficiently enough to seek help for the boy in a time when all help had failed. The boy was brought to the disciples of Jesus with the request for healing, but they were powerless and confused. The father did not give up hope in the quest of healing for his son. So, with an insistent spirit he saw Jesus and reported on the condition of his son with the declaration of the disciples’ inability to help. It is almost like saying that Jesus becomes, for all of us, our last resort. When everything else fails, we turn to the Lord.

A compassionate Jesus takes charge in moments and times of crisis. He reprimanded the disciples for their faithlessness and got on with the…