The Power of Divine Grace and the Need for Faith in Deliverance from Evil

On Sunday, August 17th, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian was present among the faithful of the St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Mississauga, Ontario. The hierarch was welcomed by Fr. Lucian Azoiței, the parish priest, and members of the local community.

In his homily at the end of the Divine Liturgy, the bishop said:

“Today’s Gospel reading presents us with a miracle performed by our Lord Jesus Christ. A suffering father brings his lunatic son — tormented by an evil spirit — to the disciples of Christ, but they are unable to heal him. In the end, only the Lord heals him, and the disciples, perplexed, ask: ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ The Lord’s answer is clear: ‘Because of your little faith.’

He then adds one of the most powerful teachings in the New Testament: ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed (...), nothing will be impossible for you.’ True and effective faith is born from a living connection with God.”

The bishop continued: “How often do we find ourselves in the face of powerlessness? How often do we try to ‘solve’ things through human effort alone, forgetting that ‘with God, all things are possible’? Then the Lord says: ‘But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.’

What does this mean? Prayer and fasting are not merely external ascetic exercises. They are the expression of a life dedicated to God — a way to be purified of passions, to cleanse the soul, and to live in obedience and humility.

Fasting empties us of ourselves; prayer fills us with God. Without prayer and fasting, faith remains an abstract concept, and grace becomes ineffective.”

Referring to the prayer of the father in the Gospel, the hierarch added:

“We see the deep pain of a father who comes and kneels, saying: ‘Lord, have mercy on my son.’ This prayer is a cry for help, an act of humility and parental love. And Christ responds, rebukes the demon, and heals the child ‘from that very hour.’

This is the power of Christ — He heals where we can no longer help. He lifts us up when we are fallen. He brings light where there is darkness.”

At the end of the service, the faithful received blessings and had the opportunity to venerate the relics of St. Grigorie Dascalul, St. Andrei Șaguna, St. Irodion of Lainici, St. Constantin Brâncoveanu, St. Calinic of Cernica, and the Holy Martyrs of Aiud.