It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!

 

 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 

 

On Saturday, Jesus taught the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus:  "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.  But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table.  Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom.  The rich man also died and was buried.  And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'  But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.  And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'  Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'  And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'  But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one 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 says that little ones refers primarily to children, and by extension to anyone whose heart is humble and dependent upon God.  In the structure of Luke's Gospel, Jesus has just told the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.  This parable is, among other things, a powerful teaching on repentance and the lack of it.  We also should keep in mind that Jesus speaks to His disciples, who will become the pillars of the Church, and teach others under them.  In this context, this is a reminder that they too will wield their own power within the structure of the Church, and have "little ones" in their care.  It is also a teaching to all those who would follow them in this role, and each one of us who would be His disciples.

"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."  We can refer to a similar passage in Matthew 18:15-35.  In that passage, Jesus first outlines a structure for mutual correction and forgiveness within the Church.  He also teaches St. Peter that forgiveness upon repentance should be done "up to seventy times seven."  In other words, symbolically, an unlimited amount.  He also tells the parable of the Unforgiving Servant in that passage, teaching us that because God forgives us, we are in turn required to grant the gift of forgiveness to others.

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."  My study Bible explains that the mulberry tree is symbolic of the works of the devil.  It is on the leaf of this tree that silkworms feed, and worms are an image of hell (Mark 9:42-48).  My study Bible adds that this patristic interpretation is confirmed by many scriptural images of evil being destroyed in the sea (Luke 8:33; Exodus 14:27; Matthew 21:21; Revelation 20:10).  

"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."  The servant plowing is mentioned first and the one tending sheep second, which shows that one must first work out one's own salvation (Philippians 2:12) before one can become a shepherd of others.  This understanding given in my study Bible confirms the understanding that Jesus is speaking of life within the Church and its eventual hierarchy, for He is speaking to the disciples, His servants.  This is a similar message to the teaching in the Sermon on the Mount given to His disciples:  "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:3-5).

 

 "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.'"  This word unprofitable is translated from the Greek word ἀχρεῖος/axreios, which might literally be understood as "without merit" or "without usefulness."  This does not mean lacking in intrinsic value.  Instead, my study Bible explains, it means that everything we have comes from God and is owed back to God.  There is nothing can offer God that is not already God's.

The teachings in today's reading parallel similar structures in Matthew's Gospel which refer to disciplines and behaviors within the Church among believers.  If we look at them in this light, then we see clearly how Jesus is addressing this issue of the "little ones" within the context of the disciples' own behaviors.  Here in Luke's Gospel, today's text comes after the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (see Saturday's reading, above), and frames that parable within a setting of power and social hierarchy, and also a teaching about compassion.  The parable is also a warning to all of us about the failure to repent, and the consequences of such a failure.  So often, we fail to understand forgiveness and reconciliation within the context of what is asked of us in repentance.  Our connection to our brothers and sisters -- even to neighbor, if you will -- is predicated upon repentance and forgiveness.  Here, reconciliation is possible through both forgiveness and repentance on the part of the offended and the offender.  It is a framework that is defined by the concept Christ gives of the two greatest commandments in the Law:  that we love God with all our heart and soul and strength and mind, and neighbor as ourselves (see again the reading in Luke in which Jesus taught the parable of the Good Samaritan).  Through both forgiveness and repentance, conflict is stopped at its earliest level, without rising to greater strife and yet more problematic grievance and controversy that can roil entire communities.  Again, this seems here to be connected to a plan for Christ's eventual Church itself, the community of believers, of disciples, in which the men to whom He speaks here will play the role of foundational pillars and images for the rest to follow.  In any hierarchy, there are those who wield power, and those who rank under them and hold different responsibilities.  Within the framework of the Church and our believing communities, the "little ones" are those who come to be taught, who look up to leadership for an image of conduct and care.  Most absolutely, Christ is preaching compassion as the rule in His Church.  And He is also pragmatic here in His teachings, for He is acknowledging that the Church will be an institution based within flawed human beings, of whom He says here that "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."  He emphasizes the care of the least, the ones who lack social currency, or power and influence of some kind, the ones who are humble and dependent, because this is truly where compassion is expressed, in how we treat the "little ones."  As followers of Christ, we must all take these words to heart, because, as He clearly acknowledges here, there will always be "little ones" and there will inevitably "offenses" that come.  In His teaching, we have been given a highly pragmatic awareness of what social structures will entail, and yet how He wants His Church to function in the midst of an imperfect and unjust world.  If we but start there, with His teaching about awareness of the little ones, His teaching about knowing and correcting our own flaws first as a mandatory beginning for being good servants to Him, our consciousness of the need for repentance and forgiveness, then we will stand in good stead in terms of understanding the workings of salvation and of our faith.  For without these teachings, what do we have?  They distinguish what Christianity is and must be, what faithful Christians must be and how we walk through life.  For we are those through whom God must be glorified in this way.

 

 

 

 

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

 

 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 taught the following parable:  "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.  But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table.  Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.  So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom.  The rich man also died and was buried.  And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'  But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.  And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'  Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'  Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'  And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'  But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one 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."  Yesterday's parable, of Lazarus and the Rich Man, was given in response to the scorn of the Pharisees, especially regarding our use of wealth and other resources in a compassionate way.  But today's teaching, we should note, is once again directed to the disciples, and therefore what kind of leadership Christ will ask for in His Church.  My study Bible explains that little ones refers primarily to children, but by extension to anyone whose heart is humble and dependent upon God.  In Matthew 18:1-4, Jesus points to a little child as the model of true discipleship.  My study Bible suggests that this is an emphasis on the virtues required for entrance into the kingdom of heaven:  humility, dependence, lowliness, simplicity, obedience, and a willingness to love and be loved.  Thus "little ones" become those who will grow in faith, the flock of the Church for which these disciples will become responsible stewards.

"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."  Seven is a number of fullness, meant to indicate an unlimited amount.  Let us note that Luke includes the important acknowledgement of wrongdoing, "I repent."  This is reconciliation, maintaining a family unity in the Church.  In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus gives a formula for mutual correction (Matthew 18:15-20).  

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."  My study Bible tells us that the mulberry tree is symbolic of the devil's works.  This is because silkworms feed on the leaves of the mulberry tree, and worms are an image of hell (Mark 9:42-48).  It notes that this patristic interpretation is confirmed by many scriptural images of evil being destroyed in the sea (Luke 8:33; Exodus 14:27; Matthew 21:21; Revelation 20:10).  

"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."  My study Bible comments that the servant plowing is mentioned first and the one tending sheep second, which shows that one must first work out one's own salvation (Philippians 2:12) before one can become a shepherd of others.  Thus, it becomes an important instruction to these future leaders of the Church.

"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.'"  My study Bible says that this word translated as unprofitable literally means "without merit" in Greek.  Ultimately, its meaning is to say they are useless, unneeded because unhelpful.  But my study Bible is quick to point out that this does not mean they are without intrinsic value.  The emphasis is on participation in this life of the Kingdom.  My study Bible explains that it means that everything we have comes from God and is owed back to God.  There is nothing we can offer to God that does not already belong to God.  See Psalm 50.

In today's reading, the apostles demand of Jesus, "Increase our faith."  He tells them in response, "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."  Now both the demand and the response are interesting.  The first is interesting because the disciples demand of Christ to increase their faith because He's given them this difficult command about forgiveness in the first verses of today's reading.  He warns them about offenses to the "little ones" of the flock, and the dire consequences to those who harm these little ones.  But then He speaks about offenses within their community.  A sin against oneself may be met by a rebuke, but if repentance comes, forgiveness is commanded.  This is not an if/and/but/or statement; there is no doubt what Jesus is commanding here.  He makes this exaggerated to make a point:  "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."   It is to this statement that they respond with a demand to increase their faith, and then Jesus teaches them the power of just a little faith, akin to a tiny mustard seed -- and that the power of this tiny level of faith is such that a mulberry tree -- a symbolic image of feeding death and evil -- may cast itself into the sea by its roots at one's command.   Effectively, Jesus makes the connection between the right-relatedness of those within the Church, through correction and forgiveness, and faith that has the power to defy the darkness and death of evil.  Now that is a powerful statement about what the Church can be, about what it means to be reconciled to one another, about what impact our faith can have when we put the things into practice that Christ teaches us.  Imagine what it means to be reconciled to one another and really form the Body of Christ between brothers and sisters who can recognize an offense, correct, repent, and forgive.  This must certainly be the picture of what good relationships are within the Church, but more importantly, what it means to build the Kingdom -- and the power of faith -- here in this world.  Imagine if we all worked to make our parishes such a model of relatedness to one another, to building faith, and to the power of that faith against the forces of death in this world, the things that are destructive in nature, the things that do not nurture life, and cause suffering.  So, ultimately, we can take today's reading and find this crucial, important, central message upon which so much else hinges:  how do we, as "profitable" servants, take it seriously that we seek to build right-relatedness in this world in all that we say and do?  How do we take responsibility to serve Christ in this sense, simply that we seek to do our part to be in the type of communion with others that He says we should?  That is, we care for the little ones, we acknowledge our own faults and repent them, and we're also willing to call out an offense when it occurs to us.  This latter can be a hard thing to do, especially when we think that things will be better if we let something pass, or it's just easier to go gossip or complain about it to someone else.  What we should not forget about is the role of faith in all of this, and that when relationships become tricky and difficult we can always take it to prayer to find our way to negotiate through it.  Perhaps we have a pastor or other person we trust to confide in, or perhaps we simply need to leave it to God and see how things progress.  But right-relatedness, in Christ's sight, is clearly presented here as powerful, and as building up the faith that brings life into this world, and counters the forces which deaden and corrupt.  How do we build this Church?  How do we build this Body of Christ?  Sometimes there will be those whom we simply have to let go, which we also read about in the Scriptures (Matthew 18:17, 1 Corinthians 5:5).  But our work is to follow the Master in His teachings, to build the faith through the practices He gives us.  For if we don't live our faith, we are indeed useless servants.  Let us take these teachings as seriously as they're given to us.

 

 

And the apostles said to the Lord, "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, saying, 'We are unprofitable servants.  We have done what was our duty to do.'"

 

- Luke 17:1-10 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught the following parable to a group of Pharisees:  "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.  But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table.  Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom.  The rich man also died and was buried.  And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'  But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.  And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.' Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'  Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'  And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'  But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one 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.  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."  After Jesus' warning to the Pharisees (see yesterday's reading, above), the theme in the Gospels turns to warning to the disciples, as they will be the ones in the future who administer Christ's Church, just as the Pharisees are religious leaders of the Jews.  Here the warning and admonitions come for abuses of power, first and foremost toward the little ones.  My study bible ways that "little ones" refers primarily to children, but by extension to anyone whose heart is humble and dependent upon God, all those who are poor in spirit.  In the same vein of good administration of His Church, Jesus speaks of discipline within the Church, and both repentance and forgiveness.  Seven times a day is a symbol of fullness.  (See also Matthew 18:21-35.)

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."  My study bible comments that the mulberry tree is a symbol of the works of the devil.  Silkworms feed on the leaves of the mulberry, and worms are a scriptural image of hell (Mark 9:42-48).  This patristic interpretation is confirmed by many scriptural images of evil being destroyed in the sea (8:33; Exodus 14:27; Matthew 21:21; Revelation 20:10).

"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."  First Jesus mentions the servant plowing, and then the one tending sheep second.  My study bible comments that this shows that one must first work out one's own salvation (Philippians 2:12), before one can become a shepherd of others.

"So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, saying, 'We are unprofitable servants.  We have done what was our duty to do.'"  The word unprofitable (literally, "without merit") does not mean that intrinsic value is absent.  My study bible explains that it means that everything we have comes from God and is owed back to God.  There is nothing that we can offer to God that is not already God's.

I find it intriguing that the first thing the disciples ask Christ, after He speaks to them about forgiveness in the Church, and warns them about offenses to the "little ones," is a plea:  "Increase our faith."  This is a prayer, even a demand.  It is a rare declarative statement on the part of the disciples, and it is one that commands from Christ something they dearly need, an increase in faith.  Perhaps it is particularly poignant that at this juncture, Jesus is moving toward Jerusalem, toward Passion Week and the Cross -- even the time when He will no longer be with them in the flesh, and they will be the stewards of His Church.  Everything else in today's reading should be seen within that context.  So, we also should be asking of the Lord, "Increase our faith."  If we look at today's message in context, it is not so much about a warning as to the treatment of the "little ones" as it is a profound statement on the nature of what it means to serve God.  We look toward our duties as responsibilities, as a way of living in this world as we bear Christ within us, and we carry His Church into the world.  Each one of us shares this responsibility with the disciples, and I wonder if we take on this discipline as gravely as we should.  Perhaps we don't realize what a profound duty it truly is, and what a deep responsibility to carry the gift of the gospel message, and to bear Kingdom into the world.  In Psalm 50, God says to Israel, "I will not take a bull from your house, nor goats out of your folds.  For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.   I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.  If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness."  Instead, God asks for praise and for righteous behavior.  In Christ's teaching, we, as servants, must remember this charge from the Lord.  It is about always keeping in mind the things God asks of us:  an attitude of thanksgiving which puts us in proper perspective on our lives in this world, and a personal understanding of what it is to serve God and to give glory to God, to call upon God in times of trouble, to remember where our loyalty lies.  Most of all, let us be like the disciples and pray for our faith to increase, so that we always understand where our duty lies, what awaits the work of our hands, heart, and minds.  

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"

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 the Rich Man and Lazarus:   "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.  But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be bed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table.  Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom.  The rich man also died and was buried.  And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'  But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.  And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'  Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'  Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'  And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'  But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one 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.  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."  We note that these sayings, coming after the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, are directed to the disciples, and they are also warnings that have to do with humility and how that lends character to our relationships with others.  There is first here a dire warning -- as these will be the bishops and pillars of His Church -- about offenses that may come, particularly to the "little ones."  My study bible suggests that little ones refers primarily to children, but also by extension to anyone whose heart is humble and dependent upon God.    In other words, this warning applies to their care of all those who will be in their charge, and in particular the "least of these" in the Church, those with little power or stature, as well as children.  Most certainly that includes all those who are "poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3).  And powerfully, this leads to Jesus' teachings on forgiveness and repentance, also in this context, a powerful affirmation of the need for humility on the part of those who will be leaders of His flock.

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."  It puts things into perspective when we realize that these sayings of Christ still come in the context of His encounters with the Pharisees, to whom He also preached humility -- and who now criticize Him for the fact that tax collectors and sinners come to hear Him.  But now, His teachings on humility are directed to His disciples.  The Gospel tells us something really quite important here, hidden in the text:  the disciples as well have problems and struggle with this difficult notion of humility.  Immediately after the teaching on forgiveness and repentance, they ask him, "Increase our faith."  Jesus does so with a powerful affirmation of just what faith can do.  But in patristic tradition, the interpretation of this saying has a particular kind of meaning.  My study bible says that the mulberry tree is symbolic of the devil's works.  It is on the leaf of this tree that silkworms feed, and worms are an image of hell (Mark 9:42-48).  There are numerous scriptural images of evil being destroyed in the sea (8:33; Exodus 14:27; Matthew 21:21; Revelation 20:10).  In this context, then, we should understand that the demand, "Increase our faith," is given in the context of the faith that it will take to overcome their own selfish tendencies, to achieve the kind of humility and service asked of them.  Jesus is explaining that even faith as a mustard seed is strong enough to overthrow personal tendencies that hinder real discipleship for those who will be in positions of authority, and therefore facing temptations for abuse of power.

"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."  My study bible explains that the servant plowing is mentioned first and the one tending sheep second, illustrating in this symbolic way that one must first work out one's own salvation (Philip 2:12) before one can become a shepherd of others. 

"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.'"  My study bible explains the word unprofitable as literally meaning "without merit" in the Greek.  Other ways to understand this word are as if one would say "useless" or "good for nothing."   The word doesn't convey that the servants are without intrinsic value.  Instead, it focuses on the need for service and the attitude of those whose necessary value is based on the model of service.  The word translated as duty here really indicates service in payment of a debt, what is owed.  My study bible says that it means that all that we have comes from God and is owed back to God.  There is nothing that we can offer to God that does not already belong to God.    In effect, discipleship, to be appropriately effective, is entered into in the spirit of service.  These words to the disciples at this stage of His ministry say that this applies in particular to those who would be leaders of the Church.

What does it mean to be a good servant?  Why should one who has done all that it was commanded to do still call oneself an unprofitable servant?  Even if one has done one's duty, why does this still merit the understanding that one is unprofitable?  This is a far cry from the modern age in which merit is demanded to be recognized in each person, or awards given to schoolchildren regardless of standing or achievement.  Rather, Christ stresses an entirely different kind of struggle for one who wishes to serve Him in real discipleship, and in particular for those who will hold positions of power.  Not only is real service and the following of His commands expected, but it is to be met with an attitude of acceptance that understands there is always more to do.  Moreover, with an understanding that to do one's duty is a basis for all the rest of life, a kind of minimum standard or expectation.  I wonder how we who approach life so differently in a modern mindset can understand the one that Christ offers us for discipleship?  The real key here is how discipleship actually demands of us more than we think we are capable of doing.  It is a key to Christianity itself, which holds a promise for us:  that as human beings we are understood by our Creator to be capable of so much more than we expect from ourselves.  Heroism and service go hand in hand.  To go above and beyond the call is part and parcel of the definition of one who calls him or herself "an unprofitable servant" who has done simply what is one's duty to do.  This is an understanding of ourselves as dynamic and not static beings.  We are always on call to go beyond, to struggle more deeply, to increase our faith so as to meet new challenges.  It is the opposite of complacency.  At the same time, there is no shrinking back from looking clearly at the difficulties of this life of service and particularly of humility which Christ asks from His servants, the disciples.  There is no fudging the struggle against one's own tendencies for abuse of power.  And this is the brilliance of Christ as loving Creator and Master.  He knows full well our struggles and He knows what He asks of us.  But He insists that we are equipped to meet our temptations, even with faith as tiny as a mustard seed.  For faith is the key to our connection to Him, the sharing of His power, His capacities, His strengths, so that we may be the kind of servants He asks us to be.  The temptations to power are never glossed over in the Gospels.  Jesus rails at the Pharisees for their lack of humility and hard-heartedness, but He also warns His own disciples against the same.  (Indeed, there are several times when they display undesirable character traits for correction, especially when it comes to position and rank.)  He prepares all of us for a life in which we consider ourselves to be servants, whose meaning and value in life is the readiness to follow the commands of our Lord, to live our lives in service to Him as the basis for our sense of ourselves.  What a different and challenging way to assert meaning, to find purpose and strength, and most of all to give us a sense of who we are as beings created for things so much greater than we would ask of ourselves.  This is the key question here:  How does humility characterize our faith and give us the capacity for so much more than we think we're capable of?  In the ancient world of Christ's time, into which His faith and teachings would go, there were myriad competing faiths in the Roman world and the extent of its empire.  The one thing that truly distinguishes Christianity from all the rest is Jesus' championing of humility as virtue.  If we think of ourselves as servants, we will be surprised at how much this does for our true nature and our sense of ourselves.  Think of it, try it, and keep in mind the face of the One who loves and cherishes us, and thereby calls us to a home and true sense of self much greater than we can know. 

It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!

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 this parable:   "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.  But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table.  Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom.  The rich man also died and was buried.  And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'  But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.  And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'  Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'   Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'  And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'  But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one 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 suggests here that little ones refers primarily to children, and by extension to anyone whose heart is humble and dependent on God.  We could also think of Lazarus the beggar, from yesterday's parable (above), as one of the little ones.  That is, one humble and without power.  My study bible further describes the virtues of those who enter into heaven, reflective of "little ones" -- humility, dependence, lowliness, simplicity, obedience, and a willingness to love and be loved.

"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." Seven times a day is a number to symbolize fullness, completion.  This is a teaching on how to be "God-like."  God not only stays the punishment we deserve, says my study bible, but forgives us the entire "debt."  Because God forgives us, it says, we are required to grant the gift of forgiveness to others.   Let us remember this is not asking us to welcome those who will abuse relationships; repentance also must be a meaningful choice and acknowledgement of error.

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."  My study bible tells us that the mulberry tree, in this passage, is symbolic of the works of the devil.  Silkworms feed on the leaves of the mulberry tree -- worms being an image of hell and true spiritual death (Mark 9:42-48).  This patristic interpretation is confirmed by many images in scripture of evil being destroyed in the sea (8:33; Exodus 14:27; Matthew 21:21; Revelation 20:10). 

"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.'"  Unprofitable means literally "without merit."  But it does not mean without intrinsic value.  It indicates instead that everything we have comes from God and is owed back to him.  In fact, this is an extension of the notion of what a "steward" is.  It is also a kind of sacramental image:  whatever we have to offer God is already His.   Consistent with the passages before it, Jesus enforces the idea of humility, forgiveness, and community under the direction and image of God -- and strength God gives us to follow such commandments.

Clearly Jesus is speaking to His disciples here.  He's giving the tough examples of what it means to live in community, in His Church, and what kind of leadership and followers He wants for Himself.  Who is the good servant who follow His commands without thinking he is doing something special or beyond the call of duty?  The first command here behind all others seems to me to be humility.  It runs through all of these teachings, and counter to the character traits He disparages in the Pharisees and scribes, those who treasure the best seats in the synagogues and greetings of honor in the marketplaces (Luke 11:43).  Jesus' warning about offenses, especially to the little ones, the ones having no power nor "currency," is as dire as it gets.  And these warnings are not to the Pharisees but to us, His nominal followers, His would-be disciples and servants.  This is all about how we think of the use of power.  He warns us against exploitation, and dishonoring those who haven't got much of a voice.  This image of power and stature was so prevalent, it is something Jesus must teach in the most extreme terms.  We are to think of ourselves as good servants, whose duty is not "special" but that which is asked of us and expected of us.  Couple this with the story of the unjust steward in Friday's reading, and we have a suggestion for how we are to treat our fellow servants -- particularly if we have any position of authority.  The disciples respond in an interesting and appropriate way.  They demand, "Increase our faith."  These are not easy teachings!  And I don't believe Jesus expects them to be easy or simple.  He is asking for a community, the Body of His Church, that works against the ways of the world.  His response is to teach about faith and the power of faith, that which will help them to be good stewards, servants, and those who fulfill the commands asked of them.  This is where we take our cue, for the power to forgive, the strength to pray with the power of God's truth, the capacity for humility in doing our duty and following His commands.  Faith becomes a kind of circulation system, the sap in the tree that gives it life and strength.  It shapes a communion that helps us to become His representatives in what we do and how we choose; it forms community by linking us with God's holy power.  This is where we turn for the strength to be good servants, for the transcendence required for true humility and not some form of self-degradation, for an understanding of forgiveness that also contains both God's mercy and God's justice.  It is that place in which we seek to stand and to fulfill His commandments, to be the light in the world that reflects His light.

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 on 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 gave a parable:  "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.  But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table.  Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom.  The rich man also died and was buried.  And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'  But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted and you are tormented.  And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'  Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'  Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'  And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'  But he said to them, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one 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 explains that little ones means "small children or those of humble status who are unable to defend themselves, but are under God's care."  Jesus has just finished telling the story of the rich man and Lazarus.  This was to the Pharisees, and it is all about the values with which we look at the world, and therefore one another.  These "real treasures" of the Kingdom, the values He teaches, will be necessary in the age to come.  But here He's speaking to the disciples -- yet the topic remains the same, and it is all about their administration of His Church, and practice within the Church.

"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."    My study bible says of this passage, "Christians are to practice unlimited forgiveness."  I think it's important that we note the pattern:  we're to speak out when something has gone amiss.  But this is for the purpose of repentance, and peace between us!  Therefore "unlimited forgiveness" is possible through real dialogue and truth.  Note the responsibility for both sides!

And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"   It's a hard saying!  The apostles now ask for greater faith.  My study bible tells us, "Although faith is a gift from God, it can increase in strength and wisdom by God's grace and human willingness."  I think it's interesting that Luke now tells us this was the request of the apostles, those who are sent out on a mission of the Kingdom to the world.

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 on the sea,' and it would obey you."  My study bible says here that "Jesus uses a deliberate exaggeration to emphasize the strength of genuine faith."

"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.'"  This is a compelling teaching, giving us an example of what we are called on to do with our lives.  He's speaking, we remember, to the apostles.  He's telling them to ask more from themselves, and that more will be asked of them.  It's also a teaching on humility; we remember that these men will go on to be the founders and bishops of the Church.  But the example is for each of us.

Today's reading is all about the responsibility within the Church, as members of Christ's body, our duties and responsibilities to one another, through our responsibility to Him.  In other words, He's making it clear that all His teachings here are commandments.  The apostles respond with real power to teach us when they ask for their faith to be increased; actually, here, it's quite a demand!  The language implies that they wish their faith to be added unto.  Because Christ is teaching them now about responsibility, and the constant need to practice these commandments, it's a greater faith that helps them to fulfill what is being asked of them.  This isn't a one-time agreement but a constant practice.  And, He's teaching them that as His true servants, more will be added unto them.  That is, more responsibility, more discipline, and more commandments.  The life of a Christian therefore is to be one of constant growth and challenges.  As God teaches so God expects of us great things, and teaches us our true capacities as His servants.  Therefore the teaching in the last verse plays itself out in our lives, if we are truly devoted disciples.  Our attitude is really about taking on the commands of our true Master, the One to whom we're devoted.  We remember these men are to be the leaders and founders of the Church, but I believe the example is to us all.  Constant forgiveness, in Jesus' rather simply put and eloquent expression here, is a matter of awareness and responsibility; it is a pattern for real dialogue and truth between people, as well as owning up to our own mistakes.  We're also responsible for correction!  Let us consider then, what kind of truth He teaches.  We remember from Matthew's Gospel that Jesus likened name-calling and insults to the Law against murder; abuse is never countenanced.  But real dialogue is our responsibility, truth and self-awareness as well are our responsibility, a kind of mutual correction system is advocated here, which He also teaches in Matthew's Gospel.  Let us remember our responsibility as His servants, and the challenge He puts before us.  It is His full confidence in us, that we are capable of so much more than we know.  It is His trust in us as well, that we are responsible to bear His Kingdom into this world -- and that there is so much more that we are capable of performing as His servants than we can know.  We ask, like the apostles, "Increase our faith!"  Thereby, our capacities grow, with His help!

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.