The disciples feared that they might not have lost the grace given to them by the Lord, and perhaps for this reason they could not cast out the demon. Notice also their reverence in the fact that they approach Jesus alone. "This kind." What? The race of those who are possessed in each new moon, or in general the entire generation of demons, which is not cast out except by prayer and fasting. Both those who suffer from them and those who want to heal should fast; both need it, and it is especially required of the sufferer himself; and not only should we fast, but also pray, and not only pray, but also fast. For thus true prayer is performed when it is combined with fasting; when the worshipper is not burdened with food, praying is easy and without difficulty.

Coming out of thence, they passed through Galilee; and He did not want anyone to know. For He taught His disciples, and told them that the Son of Man would be delivered into the hands of men, and they would kill Him, and after He had been killed, He would rise again on the third day.

Everywhere Jesus connected the word of His suffering with miracles, so that they would not think that He suffered through weakness. And now, having said the sorrowful word that "they will kill Him," he also adds the joyful one, that "on the third day He will rise again," so that we may know that sorrows will always be followed by joy, and therefore that we may not lose our spirits in vain in sorrows, but hope to receive something joyful.

But they did not understand these words, and they were afraid to ask Him. He came to Capernaum; And when he was in the house, he asked them, "What have you been discussing among yourselves on the way?" They were silent: because on the way they reasoned among themselves who was greater. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and said unto them, Whosoever will be first, let him be last of all, and servant of all. And he took the little child, and set him in the midst of them, and embraced him, and said to them, Whosoever receiveth one of these children in my name receiveth me; but whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.

The disciples, still having human thoughts, argued among themselves about which of them was greater and more honorable with Christ. But the Lord, although He does not forbid the desire for greater honor (for He commands us to desire higher degrees), nevertheless does not allow us to steal the primacy from others; on the contrary, He wants us to attain exaltation through humility. Thus he placed a child in the midst of the disciples and teaches us to be like him. A child does not seek glory, does not envy, does not remember evil. And not only then, says Jesus, will you receive a great reward when you yourselves are like a child, but if you receive others like you for my sake, and for this you will receive the kingdom of heaven, inasmuch as you receive me; but when you receive me, you will receive him who sent me. Do you see what power humility and a simple and guileless disposition have? This instills in us the Son and the Father, and, consequently, the Holy Spirit.

And John said, "Teacher! we have seen a man who casts out demons in Thy name, and does not follow us; and they forbade him, because he does not follow us. Jesus said, "Do not rebuke him, for no one who has done a miracle in my name can soon curse me." For he who is not against you is for you.

It is not out of emulation or envy that the son of thunder forbids that man to cast out demons, but desires that all who call on the name of Christ should follow Christ, and that all the disciples should be one body. At the beginning of the Gospel preaching, it happened that some, impelled by the passion of love of glory, desired to perform signs; but seeing how powerful the name of Jesus was, they called upon it, and thus performed signs, although they were strangers and unworthy of the grace of God. For it pleased the Lord that the preaching should be spread also through the unworthy. What about the Saviour? He did not allow John to rebuke the one who performed the signs: "Do not rebuke him," he says, "for no one who has done a miracle in My name can soon curse Me." That is, how will he curse Me who by My name gains glory for himself and by calling upon Me performs miracles? Apparently, the Lord contradicts Himself, for in another place He says: "He who is not with Me is against Me." But these words are spoken about demons who try to distract those who exist from God and scatter God's inheritance, and here we are talking about people who are led to God through others who work miracles.