Gospel: Luke 17:5-10
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 me 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.’”
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Reflection:
Were the apostles lacking in faith, that’s why they asked Jesus to
increase their faith? Yes, they were already lacking in faith otherwise they
would have not asked Jesus. Are you sometimes tempted to ask the Lord for an
increase of faith as well?
Diminishing faith is an ever present danger in our relationship with
Jesus. Most especially today where our faith in God is severely being tested by
the enormous trials that we face. Does faith in God still matters today wherein
smart phones, gadgets and the internet rules? Of course! Notwithstanding the
modernity of our time our faith in Jesus still matters now more than any
other time.
Our life today is full of challenges and problems. There is always that
danger that these challenges and problems might overwhelm us. And it may lead
us to believe that there is no God. But there is a God and we believe in this God.
Jesus answer to His apostles desire for an increase of faith is very deep
and interesting. He told His apostles, “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.
We all know that a mustard seed is tiny or small when it’s planted.
However, when it’s nurtured it grows big. Perhaps, the Lord is telling us that
from now on begin to nurture the faith that you have in your heart right now. It
does not matter how small that faith is what is important is you nurture it so
that it could grow big.
How are you going to nurture this tiny faith? You have to nurture it
through your presence at Holy Mass. You have to nurture it by being faithful to
the teachings of Jesus and you have to nurture this faith by your actual acts
of faith.
How is your faith in the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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