Increase our faith, the disciples ask.
So Jesus tells them that,
with faith the size of a mustard seed,
they could order a mulberry tree to leap into the sea…
and it would.
Imagine that!
A huge, deep-rooted tree pulled up and thrown away.
According to Dr. Javier Provencio,
director of the neurological ICU at the Cleveland Clinic,
most people can lift six to seven times their body weight,
but they don’t do it
because of fear, fatigue, and pain.
So we hear of folks who—
because they believe
that someone will die unless they take action—
lift cars off people pinned under them.
They are convinced that the situation is life-threatening.
So they act in spite of their fear, fatigue, pain.
Jesus had no doubt seen people doing extraordinary things,
and he saw beyond that
to observe that belief,
when the situation called for action,
would allow his disciples to perform extraordinary feats.
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And they did.
They went forth—not fearlessly but in spite of fear—
and called others to follow the Way of Jesus.
In spite of the Roman Empire
they called people to pledge allegiance to God above all.
In spite of the greed of the society around them
they called people to be generous to everyone.
In the midst of hate and discrimination and oppression
they called people to love their neighbors
and to love their enemies.
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These days we wish that our elected Congresspeople
would have enough faith in one another
to uproot a few mulberry trees.
We hear that Representative John Boehner
is going along with the government shutdown
because he fears
that he will lose his position as Speaker of the House.
He doesn’t think the House is acting responsibly,
but he’s afraid.
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The disciples are following Jesus on the way to Jerusalem.
They don’t understand what he’s about.
They know it’s dangerous.
So they ask for an increase of faith.
Jesus assures them that just a little bit of faith
will allow them to do unexpected things—miracles, even.
Then he tells them, through the story of the dutiful servant,
that those who render unstinting service,
giving themselves completely
to the responsibilities of the tasks they’re given,
without thought of reward,
are in right relationship—the right relationship of justice.
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So us.
We see a can thrown in a parking lot and pick it up for recycling.
We notice someone with a heavy load and offer to help carry it.
We open doors for folks and let them go ahead of us.
We respond to requests for food, clothing, shelter.
We show up at the school for parents’ night or grandparents’ day.
We send contributions to charities here in town
and around the world.
We listen when hurting people need to talk.
We walk along the Way,
doing every task that comes to us to the best we can,
and when we’re done with the day
we look back and see
that we have simply done what we were supposed to do…
we have followed Christ.
And in doing so we’d be doing nothing out of the ordinary—
just our ordinary duty as ordinary Christians...
just turning our world into the kin-dom of God.
--
Holy Spirit Catholic Community
Mass at 2086 Brookdale (Interfaith Chapel):
Saturdays at 4:30 p.m.
Sundays at 9 a.m.
Mass at 3535 Executive Parkway (Unity of Toledo)
Sundays at 5:30 p.m.www.holyspirittoledo.org
Rev. Bev Bingle, Pastor
419-727-1774
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