Hab. 1:2-3; 2:2-4; Ps. 95:1-2, 6-9; 2 Tim. 1:6-8, 13-14; Lk.17:5-10

“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith’” and so it came to be after the death and resurrection of the Lord and the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Before Jesus’ death they were a fearful, confused and an ignorant group of men who heard the voice of Jesus but did not understand.  After the resurrection of Jesus, they were a powerful group of apostles evangelizing, healing, and exorcising demons with sacrificial love.  Jesus increased their faith beyond the mustard seed having to bear their share of hardship “with the strength that comes from God”.  This gift of God’s grace to increase our faith is being offered to us as baptized believers but we must be willing to also take up our cross and follow him. 

The underlying theme of today’s readings is to hold onto our faith and not be “the rash one” expecting only what is good in the world and not have to “look at misery”.  Often the question is, “if God is good why is there so much misery and suffering?”  God allows suffering not to break our spirit but to strengthen it with “power and love and self-control.” 

God wants us to “press one” and he “will not disappoint”.  When are we more open to hear the voice of the Lord, in the midst of suffering or in the midst of our celebrations?  God is with us but we are not attentive to him in the noise that surrounds us.  He speaks into the silence of our hearts, in the quieting of the mind, and in the surrender of our will to his will.  This is how we increase our faith.  In the most challenging of life’s moments, when we cry out for help, it is then that he carries us because we trust in him. 

“The rash one” reveals that it is all about him, what he wants, when he wants it and how he wants it to be and God says this one “has no integrity”.  You hear statements like “I prayed and God did not answer” or “where is God when you need him” as if God exists to be our servant instead of us living to serve God.  This one is his own god. 

In the gospel, Jesus is reminding us that we are called to serve God not as “unprofitable servants” doing simply what we are obliged but in sacrifice.  In sports we often hear the call to give 110%, talent alone does not make you a superstar, sacrifice does.  When it comes to serving God we turn into minimalist, what is the least required of me to get to heaven.  Before we ask “where is God?” we are to ask ourselves “where am I in my commitment to God?” 

There are 5 precepts of the Catholic Church, attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation, confession once a year, receive the Eucharist at least during Easter season, observe days of fasting and abstinence, and provide for the needs of the Church.  For some even this seems to be too much to ask for.  These “unprofitable servants” are the ones who say “I don’t get anything from going to church” and don’t care to live up to these precepts. 

The Lord gives the apostles the parable of the mustard seed and the mulberry tree.  The mustard seed testifies to its small size and the mulberry tree to something that is impossible to grow in the sea and yet Jesus tells us in this parable that nothing is impossible with God but it begins with an act of faith.  What is an act of faith?  Follow the commandments, follow the precepts of the Church, make your day an offering to God and be still in prayer to hear the voice of God that we may be one with him.