Gospel: Teaching About Faith and Service

Today marks the Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, and the Gospel passage will be lifted from the narrative of St Luke (17:5-10).

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.

"Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here immediately and take your place at the table?' Would he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I drink and eat. You may eat and drink when I finish?' Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"

In today's Gospel, we hear Jesus teach about faith and service to God. The context is a continuing dialogue between Jesus and his followers about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Jesus has just finished an instruction on sin and forgiveness. There are two related teachings that Jesus offers to his disciples when they cry out for an increase in faith. The first is the familiar reminder that faith, even just a little, will enable the followers of Jesus to do wondrous things. But this uplifting and inspiring teaching is quickly followed by the second teaching, a caution about knowing one's place in God's plans. The disciples of Jesus are to understand themselves as servants to God and his plans. Even when God works wonders through us, with our mustard seed-sized faith, we must not seek praise. Our participation in God's plan is God's grace to us - nothing more, nothing less. When we are graced enough to cooperate with God, the work we do is nothing more than our obligation to God as faithful stewards. And yet, our faith enables us to believe that what we have offered in service to God, as his servants, can be made to produce a hundredfold.

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