Increase our faith

Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."

And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

"And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.' "

- Luke 17:1-10

In yesterday's reading, Jesus told the parable of Lazarus. Lazarus was a beggar, who laid at the gate of a rich man, and who desired only to be fed with the crumbs from the rich man's table. Both died - but it was Lazarus whose rest was in heaven (in the "bosom of Abraham"), and the rich man was tormented in hell. He begged Lazarus for a touch of cold water on the tongue, but this was not possible given his inability to practice repentance and mercy. The rich man begged, then, that someone be sent from the dead to warn his brothers of what was to come. Jesus taught Abraham's reply, "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one man rise from the dead."

Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones." My study bible notes, "Little ones: small children or those of humble status who are unable to defend themselves, but are under God's care." After the parable of Lazarus and the rich man - which seems to be a warning to the Pharisees present, Jesus speaks to His disciples. As we have noted previously, Jesus seems at this point to address several different groups of people gathered with him - teaching to each group's perspective. So, after the parable warning about the rich man's failure to practice mercy, Jesus directs the teaching to His disciples. Offenses will come, but they must take care of the humble and powerless. This most certainly refers also to those who will be under their charge as members of the faithful.

"Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him." A note reads: "Christians are to practice unlimited forgiveness." It's quite a blessed thing, to understand this forgiveness. But note: it requires honesty about the offense, not prolonged denial or cover up. In this way there is true reconciliation.

And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." My study bible has a note here that reads: "Although faith is a gift from God, it can increase in strength and wisdom by God's grace and human willingness." I quite love this request, because it shows the true nature of this dependent, and nurturing, relationship. We've got quite a lot of emphasis here on our own decisions and practices in terms of the mercy we show. But here, we are given to understand that God helps us with our own faith and strength in this love, and our choices to be a part of it. We should always rely on this ability to ask for help.

So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you." A note reads, "Jesus uses a deliberate exaggeration to emphasize the strength of genuine faith." It's wonderful to read Luke's Gospel, because there are so many familiar sayings and parables - but told perhaps to an audience or setting a little different from other Gospels. Here, this saying that reflects the parable of the mustard seed gives us a taste of what is asked of us - how little we need, so that we may increase and it (our faith and all it can manifest) increases in us. I would caution also to apply this to notions of repentance; it's my belief that we simply need the willingness to reconsider, to question our choices, to open the door, for God's mercy to be at work in us.

"And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.' " A note here reads, "The purest faith is that which recognizes that we are servants who owe everything we are and have to God our Master. Thus, after fulfilling His commandments, we should humbly recognize that we are still unprofitable (v. 10), never worthy of all His gifts."

I think this wonderful passage, told after Jesus gave the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man to the Pharisees, illustrates the recognition of how difficult it may be for the disciples themselves to practice the mercy asked of them. In their case, this will be with respect to fellow believers in the church, and also to the "little ones" in their charge. The disciples ask quite clearly, "Increase our faith," in response to Jesus' teachings on the multitude of forgiveness we are to offer to those who are repentant. So, as we have seen throughout the past several readings, Jesus shows this wonderful flexibility in His teaching, this tremendous capacity to address each audience separately, to their own perspective on His teaching and on the nature of the kingdom. He sheds light through each facet of the jewel He presents, appropriate to every gaze and perspective. To the Pharisees was given the parable (in yesterday's reading) of Lazarus and the Rich Man. But today, Jesus' own disciples need help with the understanding of the practice of mercy in which they are to engage, and help with their own faith in going forward. And finally, they are taught that to do this is no more than doing their duty in service to the Lord of the Kingdom. They are to understand that this is no more than is required of them. In some sense, and fittingly, He is tougher on them - in terms of the practice of mercy required - than He is on the others in His audience, including the religious leadership. They are to be His followers, and to act in His name. Therefore they must remember their service. It's not just the practice of mercy to which Jesus refers, but also their faith - beginning with that which is the size of only a mustard seed, and growing within them as they are given the gifts of faith they must use in the world appropriately to their status as servants of the kingdom.

And what about us today? How do we apply this teaching to ourselves? We know we have need of God's love and mercy. So how do we practice it, and how do we as Christ's followers, understand our duties in this respect - and how much greater our responsibilities are as servants? How do we treat the little ones? Let us consider the nature of relationship once again - and how our role as servants in this kingdom teaches us to be in this world, both in relation to our Lord and to those among us.