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October 7, 2007 - 19th Sunday after Pentecost
The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" The Lord replied,
"If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing
or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'?
Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron
and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'?
Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded?
So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say,
'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"
-- Luke 17:5-10
How often have you felt like the apostles and called for Jesus to
"increase our faith!" When things get rough - increase our faith!
When we are afraid - increase our faith!
When we are lost - increase our faith!...as though more faith
is the answer to our discomfort.
But the very fact that we call out to Jesus is a statement that faith already exists.
Building on this existing faith, Jesus teaches us that faith is about service -
not about our own comfort level. Jesus knows this as he alone was the greatest servant
of all. Perhaps the "faithless" times we may be experiencing are fertile ground
for service to others.
We pray: Benevolent, merciful God: When we are empty, fill us.
When we are weak in faith, strengthen us. When we are cold in love, warm us,
that with fervor we may love our neighbors and serve them for the sake of
your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
Lessons for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost:
- Psalm 37:1-10
- Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4
- 2 Timothy 1:1-14
- Luke 17:5-10
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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