Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
The apostles asked Jesus for an increase of faith.
That’s a good request for us to bring to the Lord in our prayer lives: “Help me believe more, Lord.”
Jesus response to his apostles is consoling: “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.”
The Lord is indicating to us that it only takes a little faith to do great things or, perhaps we can look at it this way: It only takes a little faith for us to say a prayer to God for God to do great things for us.
Jesus ends his teaching by reminding us that we are servants called to fulfill our obligations. Our obligations are summarized in the two-fold law of love that Jesus gave to us elsewhere: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Mt. 22:37), and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt. 22:39). These obligations are best fulfilled in faith, knowing that this is what God wants of us. We are only doing our duty. But then again, we believe that it is worth it — for by faith in Jesus, and doing as he asks, we will receive the reward of Heaven itself.
Today is also Respect Life Sunday. May we have an increase of faith to see that God is the author of all life, and do our duty to respect the gift of human life in every one of its stages, from conception until its natural end.
Have a blessed week everyone.