Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church, November 10, 2025

Gospel

Luke 17:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples,

"Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,

but woe to the one through whom they occur.

It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck

and he be thrown into the sea

than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

Be on your guard!

If your brother sins, rebuke him;

and if he repents, forgive him.

And if he wrongs you seven times in one day

and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,'

you should forgive him."

And 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."

Reflection

The line that stands out to me most in this Gospel is when the Apostles say to Jesus, “Increase our faith.” It is a request I think many of us can relate to ourselves. But it makes me wonder... how does faith actually increase? Is it something God simply gives, or something we grow through the experiences and struggles of life?

It reminds me of the saying, “Be careful what you ask for.” If you ask God for courage, will He instantly grant you that gift, or will He instead give you more moments in which to practice being courageous? In the same way, asking for greater faith might not come with a sudden burst of confidence in God’s plan, but rather through moments that test our trust in Him. At first, this can sound discouraging however, Jesus’ response offers hope...“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.”

Even the smallest amount of faith, tiny as a mustard seed and seemingly insignificant, is enough for God to work wonders. It’s not the size of our faith that matters, but the strength of the One we place our faith in. When we bring our doubts, fears, and prayers to Him, even imperfectly, God can take that small seed of trust and grow it into something powerful.