Increase our Faith

Gospel Reading:

5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”  6 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.”  7 “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’?  8 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’?  9 Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?  10 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:

The disciples ask “Increase our faith” – a presupposition that they already have faith but need an increment. The response of Jesus highlights that even the smallest level of faith is just sufficient to do marvellous things. The hyperbole metaphorical response Jesus used is the central message – the smallness of the mustard seed and the great size of the tree. Indeed, even the small faith one may have doesn’t reduce the Spirit we have been given. It is a spirit not of timidity, but of power,[1] love and sound mind.

With even the little faith, Christians can be able to bear testimony with boldness, without shame yet with humility knowing that they are servants to each other who should not expect and demand appreciation for their services. It is said that appreciation can boost one’s spirit but if we know that we are mere servants of each other, this is enough not to lower our spirit of duty. It is a call to appreciate one’s identity and to safeguard unnecessary expected appreciations.

When one is tempted to get out of his or her mind, the Second Reading reminds us that the faith or spirit we have, is also of sound mind[2] – also understood as “prudence”. Prudence will help us to foresee the dangers of always expecting appreciation. Each time we want to be appreciated and we don’t receive it, we end up in depression, and many other dangerous situations. Jesus offers us a solution; our faith is sufficient enough to do great things within our proper identity. We are servants, doing what is expected of us, hence no need to wait for appreciation.

[1] Cf. M.R., Vincent, Word studies in the New Testament, IV, 1887, 290. Here, the power to overcome all obstacles and to face all dangers. It is closely linked with the sense of παρρησία boldness.

[2] Cf. W. Arndt – F.W. Danker – W. Bauer, BDAG, 3rd Edition, 2000, 987. σωφρονισμοῦ - in non-biblical Greek with active force (σωφρόνισις) implies the teaching of prudence, advice, improvement. The Syriac version understands in this sense. The Spirit functions in such a way that Christians learn to exercise prudence. This second meaning is probably to be preferred here.