A reading from the holy Gospel according to 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: "Increase our faith."
"Set your desires on the greater gifts. And I will show you the way which surpasses all others." (St Therese of Lisieux)
Why did the apostles ask for more faith? Why do we ask for more faith? Do we not have faith enough to get us through the days? Does more faith direct us to a more spiritual perfection?
Time and time again we are forced to face our mortality and immortality. As we see evil benefitting over good, as we see loved ones die of cancer, strokes, or struggle with mental illness, we are left with the question, and now what? I may at times think I have the faith of the centurion yet my loved one still died, I believe that if I but touch the single thread on Jesus' cloak the torment of a loved ones fight with mental illness will go away. Do I believe that if I pray hard enough and suffer mortifications, the outcome will be different?
Love, I believe, is the answer...as our faith is not dependent on the outcome of our worldly lives but it grows from within--within our souls --we ask for a faith so strong that it overcomes our defects and weaknesses, a faith that God will pour out His mercy upon us for the sins we have committed. A faith that God's divine providence in our lives will be allowed to flourish amidst the turmoil of our daily lives. We know that we are destined for a supernatural destiny and so with cheerfulness, joyfulness and firm solid knowledge that love is the answer, we ask for more faith .
God Bless
