Luke 17:5-10
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 plowing 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!'"
Questions for engaging the text:
- What do I observe" What am I seeing" Does this passage raise questions for me?- Is anything attracting me, drawing my attention, or repulsing me?-What response is emerging within me? What is my response to what is attracting me?***-In what ways might I specifically act on my insights in the worldI really want to hear from you. Thank you for clicking on "Comments" below and adding your responses. Grace and Peace, Debra
Questions for engaging the text:
- What do I observe" What am I seeing" Does this passage raise questions for me?
- Is anything attracting me, drawing my attention, or repulsing me?
-What response is emerging within me? What is my response to what is attracting me?***
-In what ways might I specifically act on my insights in the world
I really want to hear from you. Thank you for clicking on "Comments" below and adding your responses.
Grace and Peace, Debra
The apostles are asking Jesus to give them enough faith to be faithful. Jesus tells them that even a tiny smidgeon of faith is sufficient. It is kind of like being pregnant, either you are or you are not. Either you have faith or you don’t. And if you do have faith, regardless of how small and faltering is seems, all things will be possible. But Jesus says the real question is, in whom or what do you put your faith? Who is in authority?
ReplyDeleteIt makes me think of the Bob Dylan lyrics, “Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord but you’re gonna have to serve somebody.” (click on the link on the upper right of this page to hear Judy Collins sing Dylan’s song)
I am both attracted and repulsed by the idea of doing what I have been “commanded” or “ordered to do.” And then I think of soldiers who are called to serve their country. Although I have never been a soldier I imagine if a soldier were to put her faith in herself to adapt to the tremendous life changes required and accomplish the mission, she might be overwhelmed, despairing, even paralyzed. But a soldier is under another’s authority. If a soldier puts his faith, even a little bit, in his commander, he might find the support he needs to foster courage and sustain his will to action. His courage would spread like a wild mustard weed and all things might be possible.
I am like the slave called to serve the master, my Lord. The prospect of doing the will and the work of God is daunting when I imagine that I must do it by my own wit and will. And so I put my wee bit of faith in the One for whom all things are possible, all the while praying that I will do only that which I “ought to have done.”