Today’s Scripture Readings

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.

‘Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, “Come here at once and take your place at the table”? 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”? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 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!”’

When I read this Gospel, my first thought was, ‘YES! Small faith, trees moving – I am going to write about that! I will just ignore the part about being a servant!’ But after a pause, I wondered why Jesus put these two ideas together.

On the surface, it can look like a contradiction. Great power and servanthood are not usually sitting at the same table. But I think the connection between the two parts of today’s passage is what faith in Jesus should look like. The Apostles are asking for an increase in faith, but knowing them, and reading Jesus words, I wonder if they might have been asking for more recognition for themselves, rather than for Him!

With that in mind, Jesus’ response makes total sense. It was a caution, a warning. Yes, even a small amount of faith can wield great power, picking up trees and throwing them into the sea! But true faith, the kind of faith required to follow Jesus, will also lead us to humility, and servanthood.

‘With great power comes great responsibility’ is a famous Spiderman quote. Maybe the Christian version is that great faith leads to great power, leading to awareness of the greatness of God, which can’t help but lead us to humility! We serve a mighty, powerful God, and what a joy and honour it is to be invited to follow Him!

Increase our faith today, Lord, so that in humility, we can ‘serve you’ and make You known in all the world!