Lk. 17:5-10
“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the one who is leading.” (Oswald Chambers) In today’s gospel, we see that the disciples realize the fact that the gift of faith is a gratuitous gift of God. The disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith. Having witnessed all the signs and miracles worked by Jesus and listened to Jesus’ teaching, they felt the fragility of their faith. At that juncture, Jesus tells them if you have faith like a mustard seed, if you say the mulberry tree is to be uprooted and planted in the sea, it will obey you. We all know that the mustard seed is a very tiny seed. Just like this tiny seed, even if we have a little faith, that could make the impossible possible for us. The mulberry tree is a plant with strong and deep roots. If it is getting uprooted and being planted in the sea, it is an impossible matter, but Jesus says that our faith can move mountains and it can make the impossible possible.
In the second part of the gospel, Jesus invites his disciples to get into the mindset of a faithful servant. The supreme priority of the servant should be to serve the master. At the end of the service, the servant should be able to remain humble because he was graced by the Lord to perform the humble service for his master. It is not his/her merit, but rather the master gave him the opportunity and granted him the necessary graces to do so. Therefore, at the end of the day, it is not the servant’s glory but the focus of the servant should be on the master’s mercy and good will.
In the second reading, we see St. Paul saying in his second letter to Timothy that the spiritual grace we enjoy is entirely God’s. God has given us the spirit of power, love, and self-control. The Spirit empowers us to be his witnesses. St. Paul exhorts us to guard this unfathomable gift of faith with the help of the Holy Spirit. It is not our merit and effort, but rather the divine grace that helps us stick on to our faith. When we encounter difficulties and challenges, it is the Spirit who empowers us to encounter these moments with faith and transform them as moments to be empowered and strengthened in our faith journey.
As we reflect on the gospel passage like disciples, let us pray to the Lord to increase our faith so that we may remain humble and always seek the glory of the Lord rather than our personal glory. And also relying on the help given by Jesus, the Holy Spirit, let us remain as his faithful witnesses wherever we are.