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 Sunday Gospel

Let us remember we are in the holy presence of God…

We need some help in understanding the message of Jesus in this Sunday’s Gospel selection. His Apostles’ ask Jesus to “increase our faith”! This request makes sense when we see that the sayings of Jesus in chapters 16 – 17 – 18 of Luke are quite severe and difficult. I suggest that the messages in the other two readings for that Sunday can help.

The Prophet Habakkuk begins his ‘Book’ with a similar request to that of the Apostles: “Yahweh, am I to cry for help while you will not listen?” There is complete dismissal of the Law going on in Jerusalem. Yahweh answers in a manner Habakkuk does not understand. “I am going to do something which you will not believe! I am sending the Chaldeans to destroy Jerusalem!” This startles Habakkuk, but he says: “You are our God for many years. Surely, you know what you are doing. I will believe!

Paul, a prisoner, writes to Timothy who is experiencing difficulties in his leadership of the faithful: “…..remember your sincere faith, a faith first in your grandmother, Lois, and then your mother, Eunice.” That faith in God is in you. Faithfully trust God!

When the Apostles ask Jesus to deepen their faith, he does not answer them directly. Rather, he tells them how powerful faith can be. By the power of faith you could uproot this big tree with complicated roots, and plant it in the sea!

We have faith in us from our Baptism, our Confirmation, our lives, and in faith we celebrate Eucharist. Trust and use what you have. Be daring!

St. John Baptist de La Salle … Pray for Us!
Live Jesus in our Hearts … Forever!

Br. James Loxham, FSC