And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to [this] mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending the sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? 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 obligated to do.'”
Luke 17:5-10 (NABRE)
To increase in living faith is to also increase in hope and love, for one cannot have a living faith without works, and neither can one live Christian love without the motivation of hope in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
Jesus here instructs His disciples to have great confidence in the power of God, which draws us in to love Him and appreciate His generosity and care for us. A component of this divine care is the commandments that God gives us, the instructions He delivers to us for living a righteous life. We find this is Holy Scripture and Tradition, as well as the Magisterium of the Church. To live in accordance with the prescriptions of God’s law is to have integrity, the peace of virtuous living through Jesus Christ, who is Mercy itself and is always ready to forgive us and to bring us healing and peace, especially through the Sacrament of Confession and Reconciliation. God is always near to us, nearer than air to a human or earth to a root. He constantly reaches out to us and invites us into friendship with Him. Never doubt the grace and friendship of Jesus Christ.
To practice virtue is to also be expressive in love. This lends itself to works of mercy for the needy, whether they are in need of material or spiritual help. In serving others in such a way, we serve God. We also serve God in the divine service of the Mass and in our personal devotional lives. To love as a Christian, to pursue a closer friendship with God, affects all aspects of our lives. All of this is centered on Jesus Christ, the living God, a God who reigns in Heaven as King of Kings and who also wants you to share your day and worries and joys and intentions with Him. Jesus will see to it that you get to Heaven. All that is needed is your trust that He will lead you there.
Thank you for reading. Peace.
Eat the Scroll 