Luke 17:5-10 (Focus on Verses 5-6)
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could 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 slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? 8 Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? 9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'”
Devotion
What if our faith feels insufficient, and we fear it may fail us?
Even Jesus’ apostles sometimes felt that way. Jesus has just said that those who damage the faith of little ones should be thrown into the sea, and that for those who land in Hades there is no possibility of return, they come to Jesus in panic over their fears. “But what if our faith isn’t enough, Jesus? You have to make it bigger!”
Here in response I imagine the world’s biggest raspberry, surprising even these disciples whom Jesus often admonished: “Ppffftttt! Guys! How many times must I tell you? You already have faith, and it’s enough!” Why? Because our faith comes not from within—as if it’s a thing for us to whip up into some invincible force when needed. Faith comes from the One whose power masters the universe—and thus most certainly any difficulty that life may throw our way.
Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, THY kingdom come. When we feel like our faith is not enough, open our eyes of faith to perceive instead the height and depth and invincibility of you—the source and strength of our faith and all that is. Amen.