Gospel
Jerusalem Bible © 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Company Inc.
The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ The Lord replied, ‘Were your 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.
‘Which of you, with a servant ploughing or minding sheep, would say to him when he returned from the fields, “Come and have your meal immediately”? Would he not be more likely to say, “Get my supper laid; make yourself tidy and wait on me while I eat and drink. You can eat and drink yourself afterwards”? Must he be grateful to the servant for doing what he was told? So with you: when you have done all you have been told to do, say, “We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty.”’
(Luke 17:5–10)
Did you know?
Points of interest and Catholic lore
- The mustard seed is one of the smallest of seeds. Even a little faith can achieve wondrous things.
- A mulberry tree has a complicated root system, which makes it incredibly difficult to move.
- In the New Testament period, servants completely relied on the master to provide everything they needed in return for their labour. Their status was close to that of a slave.
- Jesus always presents the call to discipleship and faith as a call to the service of others.
Exploring the Word
The conversation in this text occurs as Jesus is journeying towards Jerusalem, after he has already informed his disciples that he will endure great suffering there (Luke 9:44–45). In the verses just before this text, Jesus told the disciples that they must constantly forgive the wrongs committed against them. It is little wonder that the disciples are confused and beg Jesus to increase their faith. They want to believe in him, but some of his teachings are difficult to comprehend. Jesus explains that even a little faith can work miracles.
The second part of this text can also be confusing to understand. The servant in question is probably grateful that he has a field to plough, or sheep to tend, and a home to which he can return. He depends utterly on the master—and it would be a disorder if the master served the servant! We also depend on God, who provides for all our needs; in return, our task is to serve faithfully. When we have done our best in this, we have done our duty.
- Share stories of people you know who are committed to their faith. What inspired them, and has their example helped inspire you in your own journey to faith?
- Who are some of the great saints who demonstrated great commitment to their faith? Share their stories. What inspiration can we take from their witness?
Making connections
Opportunities for group discussion and personal prayer
- ‘Increase our faith.’ What more can you do to nurture your faith?
- ‘We are merely servants.’ How is God calling you to serve?
- What do you believe is your duty?
- Share stories of when you felt that you ‘did your duty’. Are there times when ‘duty’ becomes a tedious or unwelcome chore? Are there times when performing your duty was joyous or stimulating? What is ‘your duty’ at this point in your life?
- Perform as many small acts of service as you can this week.
- Use today’s entrance antiphon as your prayer this week:
Within your will, O Lord, all things are established,
and there is none that can resist your will.
For you have made all things, the heaven and the earth,
and all that is held within the circle of heaven,
you are Lord of all.
Sharing the tradition
A closer look at the Scripture of the day, to see how it makes more explicit God’s word to us through the teachings of Jesus Christ
‘Faith is first of all a personal adherence to God. At the same time it is a free assent to the whole truth that God has revealed’ (CCC, §150). Faith is both a gift from God through divine grace (§153) and a human act, in which the intellect and will freely assent to and accept God’s revealed truth (§156). St Anselm once defined theology as ‘faith seeking understanding’, because, in faith, we seek to better know the one who is revealed and to better understand what is revealed. We seek to penetrate the mystery ever more deeply so that our faith can become even stronger (§159). Faith cannot be forced; it must be a free human response to God. However, faith can be fostered and nurtured, and it can wither and die without care. The Church helps us keep our faith alive, or as the letter to Timothy says, it fans our faith into a flame.
- Discuss how the flame of faith is being fanned in the catechumens’ journey to baptism. Invite the catechumens to offer suggestions for how you can improve your program. Do they need anything more? What further support could be offered?
- You could explore other practices that help or further support catechumens, such as meditation, prayer, liturgy, devotional reading and group discussions.
- How can we continue nourishing faith in our lifelong journeys to God?
Symbols and images
Two key concepts are linked in this short gospel: faith and service. To be a person of faith is to be a person of service, and faithful service to others in the name of the Gospel will have its own reward. This gift of faith is precious. Read today’s second reading (Timothy 1:6–8, 13–14) and contemplate how you can guard this precious gift.
Living the Word
Practical ideas for group leaders to employ in connecting Scripture and daily life, with suggestions for music and environment
- What faith-sharing opportunities exist within your community, and how can catechumens become involved in them? Are further adult faith-sharing opportunities needed? How might they be provided?
- Use the open Scriptures and a cross, the symbols of our faith, as a focus for prayer. Pray for the gift of faith and for a strengthening of faith. Pray for the vocation of service to others. A suitable song could be This Is Our Faith (GA 348) or In Faith and Hope and Love (GA 442). This could be an appropriate week to have an anointing. Consider the rite in the RCIA at §101.