Help my unbelief!

When Jesus came back from the mount of Transfiguration, he found the scribes stirring up trouble, just as Moses had found trouble on his return from Mount Sinai. And in this case his disciples could not cast out a demon, so they no doubt were being derided. But Jesus steps in and settles the matter, yet not without first talking to the father of the demon-possessed boy. The poor man was weak in faith, perhaps because of the wicked scribes, so he cries out, Lord, I believe! Help thou my unbelief! And so should we all so cry, aware that unbelief resides in the same heart where there is faith, for we are still sinners. Yet he does not despise a broken and contrite heart. He helps in  time of need, because he not only came to call sinners to himself, but to sacrifice himself for them. So when we consider our weaknesses, let us not be dismayed, but remember that it is not the strength of our faith that saves us, but him in whom our faith trusts. Sermon for Midweek of Lent II.