Faith is more than what various Old Testament authors would have us believe. For example the prophet Habakkuk writes during a time of trouble, “Why do you not intervene, Lord?” Habakkuk would have us believe faith is believing in a distant deity we want to have help us in a time of need. Jesus describes faith differently and asks that we have “faith the size of a mustard seed.”
Is it possible that with “faith but the size of a mustard seed” we can work miracles? What are the miracles we might work? In a world of hierarchs dividing us politically, financially, and theologically do we want the miracle of communion? What do we do with those who manufacture division? In an ailing world of sickness and suffering do we want the miracle of people being cared for? What do we do with those people who cause people to ail and then deny them medical care? Do we want the miracle of healing? What do we do with people want who would shut down hospitals and clinics and thus deny healing. Without communion, without care for those who are ailing, without healing there is little evidence we are human beings. Are communion, love, and healing miracles? Yes. Are they also basic, the essence of our humanity? Are we looking for personal intervention from a distant deity and/or are we response-able people whose faith grows from a mustard seed to a world-wide revolution of humanity.
Faith in our God, our selves, each other, makes us more than partisan, more than citizens. Jesus’ faith in us makes us one, makes us care givers, makes us healers. Do we have faith the size of a mustard seed that we are miracle workers?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I am a miracle workers.
Question: What is the miracle I want for my life?
October 6, 2013 Gospel Luke 17:5-10 Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time