22 How the Church Has Changed the World Raising a Nation from the Dead When Jesus came down from the mountain of the Transfiguration, he met a crowd with the rest of his disciples, surrounding a man whose son was possessed. The disciples had tried to cast out the spirit, but failed. And Jesus, disappointed by their weak faith, turned to the man and said, “If you can believe, all things are possible.” “Lord, I do believe,” said the poor man, overcome by love and sorrow. “Please, helpmy unbelief.” Then Jesus rebuked the foul spirit, and when it departed it left the boy senseless upon the ground, as if dead. But Jesus raised the boy by the hand and led him home. There the disciples took Jesus aside and asked why they could not cast the spirit out. “This kind,” said Jesus, “comes out only by prayer and fasting.” Life in the ruins Father John treasured these words. They had been his anchor of hope. Not that there wasmuch visible turmoil in the village to which he had been sent. It was not, there, as it had been in Paris some years before, when the people rose up in revolt against their rulers, and then against the very leaders of
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