Reflection for October 5 Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 17:5-10

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, and that’s why they asked Jesus to increase their faith? Yes, they were lacking in faith; otherwise, they would not have asked Jesus. And just like them, are we 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, especially today, when our faith in God is severely tested by the enormous trials we face. Does faith in God still matter today, in a time when smartphones, artificial intelligence, and social media dominate our lives? Of course! Despite the modernity of our times, our faith in Jesus matters now more than ever. 

Our life today is full of challenges and problems. There is always the danger that these may overwhelm us, and at times, we may even be tempted to doubt God’s presence. But the truth remains: there is a God, and we believe in Him who never abandons us. 

Jesus’ answer to His apostles’ desire for an increase of faith is both deep and profound. He said, “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.” 

A mustard seed may be small, but when nurtured, it grows into something strong and life-giving. In the same way, the Lord calls us to nurture the faith already present in our hearts. What matters is not how small our faith may seem, but how we allow it to grow through prayer, perseverance, and trust in God. 

So, how do we nurture this tiny faith? We nurture it by being present at Holy Mass. We nurture it by faithfully living out the teachings of Jesus. And we nurture it through our daily acts of faith, no matter how small they may appear. 

Our faith, though tested, can grow stronger if we keep turning to Jesus with trust and surrender. He alone has the power to transform our doubts into hope and our weakness into strength. 

How are we nurturing our faith today? Will we allow the challenges of life to weaken us, or will we rise in trust, believing that even the smallest seed of faith can move mountains? – Marino J. Dasmarinas