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.’”
Reflection on the Gospel
Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
Increase our faith.
I think the link between “increase our faith” and “we are unprofitable servants” is my ability to be humble.
Faith is a gift which I don’t deserve and which I cannot increase unless I realize my place in this plan of God.
I don’t know why I am numbered among those who have faith, but I know that only God can increase it in me.
One thing I need to do is rely on God alone and be humbly grateful for his gifts to me.
Another thing I need to do is use my faith.
I won’t be able to say to the mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea” unless I practice using my faith on smaller things.
Every good teacher knows that skills need to be practiced to be made better.
Saint John Baptist de La Salle – Pray for us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts – Amen.