“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.'” – Luke 17:5
What causes you to have faith in God? Not someone else, but you personally. Take a moment to call to mind a few “reasons for your hope” (1 Peter 3:15). Perhaps certain people or experiences came to mind? Especially times of encounter with the Lord through the sacraments, prayer, and Scripture reading. Give thanks and praise to God for the ways that He has already increased your faith through these ways.
The apostles asked Jesus to “increase their faith.” This is rightly ordered, because although we can pray for and be open to receiving faith, it is a gift from God. Faith is one of the three theological virtues along with hope and love. “They are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life. They are the pledge of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in the faculties of the human being” (CCC 1813). This is why the apostles had to ask for more faith; they understood they could only receive what God supplied. We receive faith as a grace of God and retain it as our possession to be continually grown within our hearts.
This is the mystery of the mustard seed Jesus spoke of: “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” (Luke 17:6). Mustard seeds start out incredibly small, but once they take root they grow vigorously, growing tall and wide into shrubs by putting on branches. The seeds are minuscule, but they are powerful because they grow into large plants that spread and take over entire fields. A huge mustard plant might even become bigger than a mulberry tree and supplant it! The continual growing of our faith is what allows it to flourish and become powerful enough even to move mountains.
“[Jesus] said to them…truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” – Matthew 17:20
Speaking of mountains, can you think of any spiritual mountains that your faith has “moved”? Maybe there are old ways of life or sinful patterns that you have overcome with God’s help. Or maybe there was an overwhelming obstacle you conquered with Christ at your side. Or perhaps God has healed your heart from a wound or grief and the process felt like moving a mountain. Take a moment to consider how your faith has indeed already moved mountains in your life and give thanks and praise to God for these victories! Because you were open to God’s grace and were obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, God has moved these mountains for you through your hope-filled acts of faith. This week, ask God to increase your faith by remembering the ways that He has grown it in the past. Keep looking for the ways that He continues to grow your faith through His work in your life.
God the Father, I give You praise and thanks for all the ways that You have done what is impossible for me (Matthew 19:26). Help me see the myriad of ways that Your work has done great things for me, and fill me with joy (Psalm 126:3).
Bonus reading! Read this General Audience from Pope Francis on the virtue of faith