October 3, 2022

“The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 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.” (Luke 17:5-6)

This passage from yesterday’s lectionary is enormously comforting. Not, obviously, because we are able to fling trees into the sea like Eleven in Stranger Things. At least, I’m not able to.

It is comforting because Jesus confirms that most of our lives is shrouded in doubt. Moreover, there is no faith without doubt. But even the presence of a mustard seed sized speck of faith is all that is needed. And, the disciples, apparently, don’t even have that! So perhaps it is just the seed of a seed that registers as faith.

Just to want to want to want to believe is a plenty – and even that is the work of God.

“Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Proper 22 – BCP)