Wednesday, October 2, 2013

 

Today’s text

Luke 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.' The Lord replied, 'If you had faith like 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 at once?" Would he not be more likely to say, "Get my supper ready; fasten your belt and wait on me while I eat and drink. You yourself can eat and drink 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 useless servants: we have done no more than our duty." '

Reflection

What in the world is faith? When I was young I thought I knew what the word meant. I could define it and hold forth on the vocabulary of faith, citing each word in Hebrew and Greek.

Now, I wonder if I knew anything then, and I know that I know nothing now, nothing except this Wonder in my soul that I did not awaken. I did nothing to create or summon it. My only act is that of noticing.

In wordless speech, this Wonder speaks and assures me that all is well, that Love abides, that I have all I need, even when I feel like I have nothing of what I need.

It assures me that I have all that is needed to be who I am, which is all I am called to do.

Offer what love and grace as is in you, it says; that love and grace flows from an endless supply you cannot see, but which is always, always there.

It says, Go, do what is given you to do. It does not matter that you feel weak or inadequate or that you are convinced you do not have the internal resources to stand the heat or do what needs to be done. It does not matter that the challenge before you is great.

The Wonder in you is greater still, greater than anything you will ever face. Smile and know. Laugh in the face of struggle. Walk peacefully into each moment. Your seeming inadequacy does not matter. I matter, and I am greater.

I am the Wonder within and so far beyond you. You have what you need … to live.

Faith comes in hearing the Voice, a gift to be received each new day.

Pr. David L. Miller