The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’
This Sunday’s readings invite us to think in terms of trust and faithfulness. They remind us to be patient.
Habbakuk (First Reading) feels the Lord isn’t listening when he asks why nothing is being done about the violence and outrage he sees. But the Lord reassures him that whatever the surrounding circumstances, the upright person will remain faithful, trusting in God.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches about faith and service when the apostles ask him, ‘Increase our faith!’ He moves them away from considering faith as a quantity, to putting into practice what faith they do have. Jesus uses the size of a mustard seed to demonstrate the power of that faith. In the parable following, he then cautions the disciples about knowing one’s place in God’s plans, rather than having an attitude of ‘what’s in it for me?’ Our relationship with God is to be one of total and unconditional love and service.
St Paul tells us that the gift of faith in Christ is the Spirit of power, love, and self-control. Armed with this Spirit, we are ‘never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord’, even if it means going against the tide, or enduring hardship. (Second Reading)
The Psalmist urges us, ‘O that today you would listen to his voice!’ We are to come before the Lord with open hearts, giving thanks and praise.
Let’s pray for a deepening of our own faith and trust in God, and for guidance to use our precious God-given gifts with a servant’s heart. We also remember those suffering in war and conflict in Ukraine and beyond.
