Luke 17:5–10
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 ploughing 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!" '
Commentary
There is no evident nexus between Christ’s statement on
faith in answer to the apostles’ request, and the parable which follows, except
perhaps that faith alone is not sufficient. The follower of Christ must also do
his duty.
At the beginning of the gospel, what the apostles are asking
for here is greater confidence, greater trust in God, so that they can work the
miracles which Jesus worked. This becomes evident when we see the contexts in
Matthew and Mark in which the same ides expressed. Jesus had withered a fig
tree by a simple wish. The apostles marveled at this. He told them that if they
had greater faith they could order a mountain to hurl itself into the sea and
it would obey them (Matthew 21:18 and Mark 11:20). What the apostles needed,
therefore, was greater trust in God.
But Jesus answered them with a parable, and the parable
needs little explanation. The master expects the servant to carry out his
orders. When he returns from working in the fields, he has house work to do. His
master does not feel indebted to him for this. This is what he is being paid
for, this is his role in life. So it is with Christ’s apostles.
Although the words we have read were addressed to the
apostles, they apply to all of us, each in his own station in life. Following
the example of the apostles, we must all pray for greater trust in God. Most of
us are inclined to forger God and his providence when our earthly affairs are
going well. How often do we than him when we are enjoying good health, and when
our home life and business are going smoothly? How many Catholics make a novena
of thankisgiving for all the gifts thy have received and are receiving daily
from God’s providence? How many , rather, pat themselves on the back for what
they claim as their own successes?
It is only when a storm arises in their lives that they
think of him. Remember that storm on the Lake of Gennesaret. The apostles were
rowing cheerfully across the lake. They were probably telling tall yarns about
the size and the number of fish they had caught there in their day. They may
have been striving against one another to show who was the strongest oarsman.
They did not seem to notice that Jesus was sleeping soundly in the bow of the
boat. They thought of him only when the storm arose, and then when they
realized that they were in danger they shouted to him for help (Mark 5:37).
They did not realize that both the calm and the storm were under his
providence.
Too many of us also forget God and fail to give him the
thanks for our well being, which we owe him. We rush to him only when trouble
strikes. In his infinite goodness he often answers such panic prayers. If we
had thought of him every day and realized his place in our lives with how much
more confidence would we then approach him in our hour of special need? If our
own personal lives were stronger how much more readily would we accept the
adversities and the trials that he sends us or allows to befall us for our
eternal good? We can all ask God today to increase our faith.
As regards our work for God’s kingdom and for the salvation
of ourselves and of our neighbor we are like the apostles servants of God, and
we should be proud of our status. We should be glad, thath is, that he allows
us to cooperate with him in the building of his heavenly kingdom. Are we really
dutiful servants in this regard? Let each one of us ask himself seriously
today: What have I done up to now to help to make God known to my neighbor who
is ignorant of God and never thinks of what will happen him after death? I may
not be able to put in words very clearly what I know and believe about God and
the future life, but I can speak to him far more convincingly by my way of
living, by my daily actions.
The sincere Christian can find many ways to help to make
Christ know to his neighbor without going on the foreign missions. There are
pagans and unbelievers, often such through no fault of their own, and there are
many lax Christians all around us. We should, and we can, have an effective
influrence on them and on their eternal future, if we ourselves live out
Christian lives as Christ expects us to do.
Look around you today. Think of your fellow workers and
those living in your own street. Many of them need help and need it badly. You
can help them, God expects you to help them. It is his plan for getting you to
help yourself to get to heaven. If you fail to cooperate with God by helping to
bring his stray children back to him, you may find that you will be a straying
child on your day of reckoning God forbid. Amen.