Lord, increase our faith. The apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith. They were facing a hard situation that demands courage. That is why they asked for help. Lord, increase our faith. In reaction, Jesus says to them; The Lord reminds them that they do not need a lot of faith, just a tiny mustard seed of faith is enough. By using the small mustard seed as an example, Jesus is speaking figuratively about the incalculable power of God when unleashed in the lives of those with faith. In other words, He is saying you don’t even need faith the size of a mustard seed. The little bit of faith you have is enough for God to do the impossible in your life. If you are facing a crisis in your family, for which you can see no solution—a marriage coming apart at the seams, a child or a grandchild who has lost their way—Jesus asks to pull together just a little faith. That will make a difference. If you are bereft by the loss of someone you loved in life and can see no future ahead of you, if you look into the future and realize that if you live into your 90’s your health is going to fail, your strength will be reduced, and you will be dependent on others, Jesus says, “Gather together whatever faith you can find, and give it to me. We will face the future together.”
Sometimes we think that our faith has to be like that of Mary and the angels in heaven in order to cope with life. Jesus tells us today that it does not. Our faith need only be as big as a mustard seed. That will be enough, because God will make up the difference.
