October 6th : Gospel Reflection for this Sunday The 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Please read Br Michael’s reflection for Sunday October 6th
Lord, increase our faith
Let’s be honest; we all love presents and gifts. Whether it’s our birthday or Christmas, we all love receiving a gift and unwrapping it to see what’s inside. But this is only the beginning; then we have to start using the gift that we have been given. It doesn’t matter what the gift is; unless we embrace and use it, it will simply remain a thing that is of little or no use to us. Which brings us to this Sunday’s Gospel. The apostles of Jesus have a simple yet profound request; ‘Lord, increase our faith.’ It seems that their faith has been tested and found to be weaker than they believed. And so, with courage and humility they ask Jesus to increase and strengthen their faith. In response Jesus tells them that if their faith was a small as even a mustard seed, they would be able to uproot and move trees with a simple command!
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus also speaks about the mustard seed. He says again that is the smallest of seeds, but when it is planted, it grows into the largest and most lush of all trees. This is true. The mustard seed is tiny, but when it grows and matures it is one of the biggest trees. What is Jesus saying to us today when he compares faith to this seemingly insignificant seed? Faith is a gift given to us by God, but it is given to us as a tiny seed, just like a mustard seed. It is sown and planted deep within us through the love of God and the grace of baptism. Like any small seed that is sown, even in a flower pot, it won’t grow, and blossom unless it is cared for. It needs to be nourished and nurtured. It won’t grow or develop by itself or if it is ignored and left alone – it may even die altogether. My father was gardener all his life. Every year he would sow all sorts of small seeds in the garden. Then, over time with love, patience and concern, he cared for them. He watered them and pulled out the weeds when they appeared. Eventually all his hard work paid off – the garden was filled with an orchestra of plants, shrubs and vegetables.
Each of us have been given the most precious gift of faith. It is up to each of us to protect this gift – it is very fragile. It is our responsibility to nourish and nurture this seed of faith. How do we do this? We can help our faith to grow through living and leading a good ordinary daily life; through regular prayer and by celebrating the sacraments with others, especially the eucharist. And of course, we can repeat the request of the disciples, Lord, increase our faith.
In the second reading today, St. Paul encourages us with these words;
“I am reminding you to fan into a flame the gift God gave you… You have been entrusted to look after something precious; guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Whether our faith is a small spark and or a small seed, let us pray, Lord, increase our faith.
-Br Michael Moore OMI
Gospel for Sunday October 6th : Luke 17:5-10 ©
Faith the size of a mustard seed can achieve great things
The apostles said to Jesus, ‘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!’”
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