Prayer & Fasting: The Fuel of Renewal

In recent years, I have been deeply struck by certain verses in the Gospel according to Mark. They have often intruded into my thoughts and prayers. First, some of the very last verses of this chapter:

And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up deadly serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16: 17-18).

I admit I am afraid of, and am not going to pick up any deadly snakes, or try to drink any deadly thing! But more relevant, for example, I have asked God for many physical healings for others and myself, and I'm not sure I quite believe they will happen. I doubt myself. But this throws me back in thought to earlier in this Gospel, to a story of Jesus casting out a demon from a child that the disciples failed to cast out. Speaking to the child’s father he says:

Jesus said to him, ‘If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ (Mark 9:23-24)

Jesus then proceeds to cast out the demon, and the disciples after watching all of this approach him:

“And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ And he said to them, ‘This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.’” (Mark 9:28-29).
Prayer and fasting. 

He is telling us we need to double down. Though I doubt myself, though I am afraid of deadly snakes and poison...prayer and fasting I can do. And when we look back, we can all see the hand of God at work. I remember a few years ago my dad was really struggling with his faith, and it really upset me, so I took many cold showers (fasting from warmth) as a sacrifice of prayer for him, and I begged God constantly for two years. My dad’s faith returned and is growing daily. I did something similar for my uncle, who was near death, and after 50 years away from the sacraments, in his final weeks of life, he asked for a priest and died in the peace of God. In another instance, after 15 years of the most heartfelt prayer of my life (this intention I keep private), it was finally granted, and I was filled with tears of joy.  Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief!

Why am I sharing all of this? When things look really hard, when we ache for a soul to return to Jesus, when Renewal looks too big, but we want it so bad, remember that the very disciples who walked with Jesus Himself were told that there was something they should do more of…Prayer and Fasting. This is the fuel of Renewal. 

Consider where Renewal in your parish needs prayer and fasting, and especially as we enter into Lent next week, commit to it. Is it to reignite passion in your ministry?  Is it for the youth of your parish, many of whom are conspicuously absent?  Is it for that new family that just started attending?  For your pastor?  The Lord will honour our offerings to him - he says so!  But some things can only be accomplished with enough prayer and fasting.

Note: Do not pick up any deadly snakes or drink any deadly things as a test, and fast in accordance with the norms of the Church and with guidance from your pastor.

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Written by Ryan Schmidt, Director of Renewal. Save the date: April 17-18 - Renewal Conference on Missionary Discipleship - with Bishop Scott McCaig - St. Michael's, Calgary. Details coming soon!