The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on one while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”
—Luke 17:5-10
“Increase our faith!” The apostles were addressing Jesus. In our life, there comes a challenging time when we doubt God’s existence, if God really listens to our prayers. Sometimes, we feel uncertain and doubtful if God is really up there. We question until we get tired of not getting any answer.
In the gospel, Jesus replied: “If you only have faith like the size of a mustard seed, then you can do what you want and wish to do. ’You can even order the mulberry tree to be uprooted and be planted in the sea.’ Of course, this is an image of the power of faith.
Faith is not based on physics or any other physical sciences. It is not founded on factual data or laboratory experimentations or scientific calculations. It is not based on evidences that can be proven and defended. Faith does not have to be proven for it is based on life itself. Faith in the divine is innate to people who believe. There are cultural studies available and would vary in the different processes every society undertakes, but faith is always at the core of every culture.
In the gospel, Jesus shared an example about the servant who just came from plowing or tending sheep, will you invite him to sit with you at the table or ask him instead to prepare something to eat? And to further order the servant to put on the apron and wait on until the master finishes his meal. Will he be grateful to the servant because he just followed what was commanded? The same is true for us, that having done what we were asked to do, we still say that we are undeserving servants because we just do what we were obliged to do. The Lord asks us to do his will and follow him. And when we do this, it is faith that will guide us in our pursuit.
“Increase our faith Lord” is our prayer. Day in and day out, we are always tested by our faith. But if we only have faith even just like the size of a mustard seed (which is one of the smallest seeds in the plant kingdom), then we can do even greater things.
If we have strong faith, we also grow as a person. By faith, we see God in others, in our brothers and sisters. We see God in the people we meet and encounter in every moment of one’s life. By faith, we can see the face of the Risen Lord in others. The song in the play Les Miserables echoes the faith of the convert that ‘to love another person is to see the face of God.’ Faith and charity is inseparable. Our belief is not isolated nor separated from what we do.
Let us ask the Lord to help us when we become weak, uncertain and doubting. Let us pray to the Lord to have our gift of faith grow. Faith the size of a mustard seed is enough, truly enough for us to add more meaning to our lives and help make this world a better place. Let us be faithful and loving at the same time. Let us also increase our faith with one another. We should have faith in ourselves as well that we can make a difference as a person, as a family, as a community and as a nation.
Time after time, as a people and as a nation, our faith is tested. In our Christian families and communities, our faith is challenged. As a person and as a child of God, our faith is purified. Faith is always being tested, challenged and purified. Faith is not static, it is alive and dynamic. Faith increases or decreases. As we experience the love of God more and more, our faith increases.
Let us then take time to evaluate our Christian life, our Christian faith. Now that we are grown ups, are we inspired by the Word of God? Do we read religiously and reflect on the messages of the Scriptures? Do we celebrate the living traditions of our faith in full enthusiasm and creativity? Are we more sensitive and responsive to the needs of our brothers and sisters, especially the deprived and marginalized? Do we share our God- experience with others? Do we share the story of Jesus and the love of God with others?
Let us pause, reflect, pray and ask ourselves:
Am I faithful to the laws and commandments of the Lord?
Is my Christian faith well- built and increasing?
Have I grown in virtues?
Do I live a virtuous life?
Does my faith help me experience and see God? Have I lived my life in the Lord?
Prayer: Loving Father, we thank you for the gift of faith. May we grow in faith so as to be able to see more clearly and follow you more closely. Strengthen our faith with your grace so we may give witness to your will and love and so we can inspire others. This we ask through Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
source: interaksyon.com